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Background: Argan oil is one of the products used for antidiabetic purposes in Morocco. Objective: This work aims to study the acute and subchronic effect treatment of the roasted (Roil) and unroasted (UnRoil) Argan oils on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and body weight in normal and diabetic rats, evaluate the effect of these oils on glucose absorption by the diaphragm and determine total polyphenol, flavonoids, tannins, chlorophyll and carotenoids amounts. Methods: The anti-hyperglycemic effect of Roil and UnRoil was investigated in normal and alloxanediabetic rats by treating the animals orally with 2 mLKg-1/day of oils for 1 day (Acute treatment) and 4 weeks (Subchronic treatment). Then, OGTT was carried out at the end of each treatment, and the body weight was checked for each week. Besides, these oils (1 gL-1) were tested on glucose absorption by the diaphragm isolated from Wistar rats in vitro. Results: This work shows that Roil and UnRoil significantly decrease the postprandial glycemic level in acute and subchronic treatments in normal and diabetic rats. Besides, the intake of these oils in diabetic rats significantly attenuates the postprandial glycemia compared to the acute-treated group. In vitro glucose uptake by the hemidiaphragm study shows that Argan oils promote glucose consumption by the muscles. Conclusion: Argan oils showed a very important anti-hyperglycemic effect, which could be explained by promoting peripheral glucose uptake. UnRoil shows a better effect than Roil on glucose consumption, meaning that the roasting process influences the phytoconstituent responsible for this activity.

A rapid, easy and simple method for the isolation and purification of α-glucosidase inhibitors of the ethyl acetate extract of Thymelaea hirsuta (EaTh) by a combination of thin layer chromatography (TLC) and enzymatic test has been developed. EaTh was demonstrated previously a potent α-glucosidase inhibitory effect. In this study, we developed a simple TLC-enzymatic test (TLC/EZ) combination to isolate α-glucosidase inhibitors present in EaTh.EaTh was extracted by Soxhlet from Thymelaea hirsuta (T. hirsuta). The EaTh was separated on a silica gel column and then on a TLC plate. After TLC separation, the TLC/EZ combination method was applied. α-glucosidase inhibitors were detected directly in the TLC plate using the glucose oxidase peroxidase method (GOD-POD). A good detection of active compounds was obtained in the TLC favoring the TLC/EZ method. Active compounds were then characterized using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS) analysis. The main α-glucosidase inhibitors present in EaTh have a molecular ion [M + H]+ at m/z = 543. This proposed method is suitable for a reliable isolation and purification of α-glucosidase inhibitors present in EaTh. It could be proposed as an interesting alternative of the classical method for the isolation and purification of α-glucosidase inhibitors in plant extracts.

Opuntia dillenii is a medicinal plant with frequent usage in folk medicine to treat many illnesses. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of Opuntia dillenii seed oil against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The animals (rats) were randomly divided into three groups (i) the normal control group treated only with distilled water (10 mL/kg), (ii) the gentamicin group treated with distilled water (10 mL/kg) and received an intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin (80 mg/kg), and (iii) the group treated with the Opuntia dillenii seed oil (2 mL/kg) and also received an intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin (80 mg/kg). The rats received their following treatments for 14 consecutive days orally. Serum urea, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, albumin, and electrolyte levels were quantified as the markers of acute renal and liver failure. Besides, the kidney and liver relative weight, kidney malondialdehydes, and kidney histological analysis were determined. The results have shown that daily pretreatment with Opuntia dillenii seed oil (2 mL/kg) prevented severe alterations of biochemical parameters and disruptions of kidney tissue structures. In addition, the results of the present study showed for the first time that Opuntia dillenii seed oil reduced renal toxicity in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Therefore, Opuntia dillenii seed oil may represent a new therapeutic avenue to preserve and protect renal function in gentamicin-treated patients.

The synthesis of new functionalized tetrazole-pyrazole compounds is reported. They were fully characterized by spectroscopy and spectrometry methods. The vasorelaxant potency of these molecules was also investigated. All compounds showed a good vasorelaxant activity but the Compound 6 "ethyl 1-((2-(3-bromopropyl)-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate" seems to have the highest effect, which reached 70% at 10-4 M concentration. This effect was partially endothelium-dependent; also, the vasorelaxant pattern of this compound was quite similar to that of the verapamil.

Intestinal spasms are violent contractions that occur in the intestine, which cause discomfort to people who have them. Medicinal plants are widely used in traditional Moroccan medicine to treat these problems, among these being Artemisia campestris L. This study aims to evaluate the relaxant and antispasmodic effects of an aqueous extract of this plant (ACAE). It was performed in vitro on isolated segments of both isolated rat and rabbit jejunum mounted in an organ bath and tension recordings made via an isotonic transducer. ACAE caused a myorelaxant effect on baseline rabbit jejunum contractions in a dose-dependent and reversible manner with an IC50 of 1.52 ± 0.12 mg/ml. This extract would not act via adrenergic receptors pathway. On the other hand, the extract caused a dose-dependent relaxation of the jejunum tone in rat jejenum segments pre-contracted with either Carbachol (CCh; 10-6 M) or high K+ (KCl 75 mM) with an IC50 = 0.49 ± 0.02 mg/ml and 0.36 ± 0.02 mg/ml respectively. In the presence of different doses of the extract, the maximum response to CCh and CaCl2 was significantly reduced. This demonstrates that ACAE acts on both muscarinic receptors and voltage-dependent calcium channels. Thus, the plant extract acted on both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors and acts on the guanylate cyclase pathway, but not the nitric oxide pathway. These results indicate the mechanism by which Artemisia campestris L. acts as an effective antispasmodic agent in traditional Moroccan medicine.

Background Diabetes mellitus is a serious metabolic disease, which affects a large number of populations in the world. Phytotherapy is considered as the most remedies used by Moroccan people to treat this pathology. Argania spinosa L. (SKEELS) seeds oils is among the products that are used traditionally in Morocco for the anti-diabetic purposes. Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of roasted (Roil) and unroasted (UnRoil) Argan seeds oils on α-glucosidase, α-amylase and intestinal glucose absorption activities in vitro and in vivo. Methods The antihyperglycemic effect of the roasted and unroasted Argania spinosa L. seeds oils was tested against α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities, in vitro, at the concentrations (82, 165, 328 and 656 µg/mL) and (0.9, 2.25, 4.5 and 9 mg/mL) respectively. In addition, the inhibitory effect of the oils against these enzymes was confirmed, in vivo, in normal and STZ- diabetic rats. The antihyperglycemic effect of these oils was also tested against intestinal d -glucose absorption activity at the dose of 1 mL/Kg using the jejunum segment perfusion technique, in situ. Results The results of this study were showed that the Roil and the UnRoil were significantly (p Conclusion The Argan oils showed a very high anti-hyperglycemic activity. This effect could be achieved by the inhibiting of the activity of pancreatic α-amylase, intestinal α-glucosidase and the intestinal absorption of D-glucose. Moreover, the UnRoil has shown a better anti-hyperglycemic activity than the Roil, which means that the torrefaction of the Argan seeds before the oil extraction, influence on the bioactive constituents responsible for this beneficial effect.

Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can affect many organs and, over time, leads to serious complications. Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a specific ocular complication of diabetes, remains the leading cause of vision loss and vision impairment in adults. This work is the first in Eastern Morocco aimed at identifying the different stages of DR and to determine their frequencies and associated risk factors. It is a case-control study conducted from December 2018 to July 2019 at the ophthalmology department of Al-Irfane Clinic (Oujda). Data were obtained from a specific questionnaire involving 244 diabetic patients (122 cases with retinopathy vs 122 controls without retinopathy). All results were analyzed by the EPI-Info software. This study shows a predominance of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with 57.4% of cases (uncomplicated proliferative diabetic retinopathy (UPDR): 23.8%; complicated proliferative diabetic retinopathy (CPDR): 33.6%). The non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) represents 42.6% (minimal NPDR: 8.2%; moderate NPDR: 26.2%; severe NPDR: 8.2%). The determinants of DR were insulin therapy, high blood pressure, poor glycemic control and duration of diabetes. Regarding the chronological evolution, retinopathy precedes nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) was present in 10.6% of cases especially in patients with PDR. In summary, the frequency of PDR was higher than that of NPDR. DR appears before DN with a high frequency of DN in patients with PDR. Good glycemic control and blood pressure control, as well as early diagnosis are the major preventive measures against DR.

Tetrapleura tetraptera and Aframomum citratum fruits are used as spices and in the traditional pharmacopeia in Cameroon. They are mostly combined and preheated for many purposes while cooking. The effects of roasting on the phenolic content of spices, phenolic profile of a beverage made with the mix of roasted spices and its hypoglycaemic activity on diabetes complications were investigated. Aqueous extract (infusion: 100°C; 1/5 g/ml) was prepared, and the total polyphenols and flavonoids contents before and after heat treatment were quantified. Four formulations of T. tetraptera/A. citratum (95/5; 90/10; 85/15; 80/20) were assessed and the in vitro glucose adsorption capacity of the extracts was studied to retain the most effective formulation (AEF). Phenolic and derivatives compounds of AEF were analysed using HPLC-DAD methodology. The AEF hypoglycaemic activity (250 mg/kg bw) and the various complications of hyperglycaemia after Streptozotocin induction (55 mg/kg) were examined on rats. Significant (p

Background In Morocco, the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is mainly focused on medication and only 2% of patients are coached towards a healthier lifestyle. In Oujda, Eastern Morocco the prevalence of T2D is 10.2%, and the current trend is alarming, especially for women. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore healthcare professionals (HCP) views on the perceived barriers and benefits of an integrated care approach in primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) to T2D management in Oujda. Methods A qualitative descriptive study using focus groups in 8 PHCCs. This resulted in a sample of 5 doctors and 25 nurses caring for diabetes patients. The transcripts of all conversations were coded to allow for thematic analysis. Results The participants mentioned different barriers to an integrated approach to DM management:: excessive workload; poor reimbursement policy; lack of staff and equipment; interrupted drug supply; poor working environment; limited referral; gap in the knowledge of general practitioners; health beliefs; poverty; advanced age; gender; the use of psychotropic drugs. An integrated approach could be facilitated by simplified electronic records and referrals; uninterrupted free care; staff recruitment; continuous professional development; internships. Benefits: structured care; promotion of care in PHCCs; empowerment of self-management. Conclusion HCP views reflect the urge to strengthen the management of T2D in PHCCs. There is a need for HCP with expertise in physical activity and nutrition to solve the current gap in the multidisciplinary integrated care approach. The specific local context in this Eastern Moroccan region, with limited resources and remote hard-to-reach rural areas, can contribute to patients’ reluctance to change their lifestyles, and is a challenge to provide care in an efficient and sustainable manner. More research is needed to see how a patient-centered multidisciplinary approach to T2D management can help motivate patients in Morocco to change to a healthier lifestyle.

In traditional therapy, Argania spinosa L. seeds oil used as a nephroprotective and hepatoprotective agent. The present work aims to investigate the acute toxicity of unroasted Argan oil, and studied the nephroprotective and the hepatoprotective activity of both oils Roasted (Roil) and unroasted Argan oil (UnRoil) on CCl4-induced liver and kidney damages in Wistar rats. Animals were divided into five equal groups; Control and CCl4 groups are received only distilled water (10 mL/Kg/day). Control positive group received 50 mg/Kg/day of Silymarin. Roil and UnRoil groups treated with 2 mL/Kg/day of Roil and UnRoil. One week after each pretreatment, the rats are injected intraperitoneally with 1 mL/kg/week of CCl4. The treatment has lasted for 15 days. The body weight, urinary volume, water, and food intake were measured at the end of the treatment. Then, the animals are sacrificed; the blood and the liver samples were collected for determining the liver weight ratio and biochemical parameters. UnRoil did not show any sign of toxicity up to 5 mL/Kg. In Roil and UnRoil groups the water intake, ALT, AST, total and direct bilirubin, triglycerides, LDL, plasmatic creatinine, urea, uric acid, and MDA levels are reduced significantly as compared with the CCl4 group. However, body weight,liver weight ratio, food intake, urine urea, urinary creatinine, hepatic glycogen, and GSH levels showed a significant increase compared to the CCl4 group. Roil and UnRoil showed important nephroprotective and hepatoprotective effects against CCl4. Although, the roasting process does not influence the ability of Argan seed oils towards these activities. Keywords, Arabian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Vol 7, No 3 (2021)

Caralluma europaea (Guss.) N.E.Br. (C. europaea), is a medicinal plant used traditionally to treat diabetes mellitus (DM) in Morocco. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antioxidant properties, glucose diffusion effects, α-amylase inhibitory activity, and pancreatic protective effects of C. europaea in experimental alloxan-induced diabetes in mice. Total phenolic contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric method, total flavonoid contents were measured by aluminum chloride colorimetric assay, and tannins contents were determined by employing the vanillin method. C. europaea ethyl acetate fraction exhibited high antioxidant potential in terms of radical scavenging (DPPH) (IC50 = 0.22 ± 0.01 mg/mL), β-carotene bleaching activity (IC50 = 1.153 ± 0.07 mg/mL), and Ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Glucose diffusion was significantly inhibited by the ethyl acetate fraction at 60,120and 180 min, while the aqueous extract did not have this inhibitory effect when compared with the control group. Potent α-amylase inhibitory activity was observed in the ethyl acetate fraction and the aqueous extract in vitro and in vivo using STZ-diabetic rats. On the other hand, the administration of the ethyl acetate fraction (60 mg/kg) significantly attenuated alloxan-induced death and hyperglycemia in treated mice. Furthermore, histopathological investigations revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction protected islets of Langerhans against alloxan-induced tissue alterations. These results suggest that C. europaea exhibited an important antihyperglycemic effect via the inhibition of glucose diffusion and pancreatic α-amylase activity. In addition, the antidiabetogenic effect of C. europaea might be attributed to their polyphenol and flavonoid compounds, which could be reacted alone, or in synergy, to scavenge the free radicals produced by the alloxan.

Background:: The need for a multidisciplinary team approach to provide physical exercise, diet, behavioral change, and insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatment has long been recognized. However, often patients with T2DM do not have access to a multidisciplinary team. Introduction:: In developing countries, most patients with T2DM receive their diabetes care in the office of an internist or family practice physician or in a primary level health center with a general practitioner. Knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding the perceived barriers, attitudes, facilitators, and benefits of a multidisciplinary team approach in T2DM treatment can help facilitate the implementation of multidisciplinary care in T2DM. Methods:: A systematic search strategy was performed in six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane) using different keyword combinations to identify studies describing the healthcare professionals’ views of multidisciplinary team care in T2DM. A textual narrative synthesis was used to analyze data. The Critical Appraisals Skills Programme (CASP) tool for qualitative studies was used to assess the risk of bias and transferability. Results:: The views of health professionals about multidisciplinary team care in T2DM were categorized into six major factors, namely working collaboratively to foster supportive relationships; strong committed organizational and team leadership; diversity in expertise, with team members tailored to local circumstances; shared goals and approaches to ensure consistency of message; clear and open communication with the team and with patients; and the patient at the center of decision- making. Conclusions:: There is a huge gap in shared roles among health professionals in T2DM therapy. Hence, there is a need for allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, dieticians, and psychologists with expertise in diabetes to explore primary healthcare, barriers and facilitators to the successful integration of multidisciplinary team, seamlessly distributedinto three hierarchal levels, namely health management, health professionals, and diabetic patients.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Origanum majorana L. (Lamiaceae) was usually used in Moroccan folk medicine to treat infantile colic and abdominal discomfort. Materials and methods The essential oil from the aerial part of the dry Origanum majorana L. (EOOM) was obtained through hydro distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The effect of EOOM on muscle relaxation was measured on rabbit and rat intestinal smooth muscle mounted in an isotonic transducer. Results 1) The main compounds obtained from the aqueous extract of this plant were alpha Terpineol, L-terpinen-4-ol and Beta.-Linalool. 2) EOOM inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner spontaneous contraction of rabbit jejunum, with an IC50 = 64.08 ± 2.42 μg/mL. 3) In rat intestine, EOOM induced the relaxation of the tissue in concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 = 39.70 ± 2.29 μg/mL when the tissue was pre-contracted with CCh 10-6 M, and 48.70 ± 2.26 μg/mL when the tissue was pre-contracted with 25 mM KCl. 4) The relaxation effect induced by EOOM was more important than that obtained in the presence of atropine, hexamethonium, Nifedipine, L-NAME and Blue of methylene. Conclusion the present result indicates that essential oil of Origanum majorana L. exhibit an effect on intestinal relaxation in vitro. This effect further validates the traditional use of Origanum majorana L. to treat infantile colic and abdominal discomfort.

Opuntia dillenii is a medicinal plant with frequent usage in folk medicine to treat many illnesses. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of Opuntia dillenii seed oil against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The animals (rats) were randomly divided into three groups (i) the normal control group treated only with distilled water (10 mL/kg), (ii) the gentamicin group treated with distilled water (10 mL/kg) and received an intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin (80 mg/kg), and (iii) the group treated with the Opuntia dillenii seed oil (2 mL/kg) and also received an intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin (80 mg/kg). The rats received their following treatments for 14 consecutive days orally. Serum urea, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, albumin, and electrolyte levels were quantified as the markers of acute renal and liver failure. Besides, the kidney and liver relative weight, kidney malondialdehydes, and kidney histological analysis were determined. The results have shown that daily pretreatment with Opuntia dillenii seed oil (2 mL/kg) prevented severe alterations of biochemical parameters and disruptions of kidney tissue structures. In addition, the results of the present study showed for the first time that Opuntia dillenii seed oil reduced renal toxicity in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Therefore, Opuntia dillenii seed oil may represent a new therapeutic avenue to preserve and protect renal function in gentamicin-treated patients.

This study aims to assess the safety of the Opuntia dillenii (Ker-Gawl) haw. seed oil (ODSO) and its effect on the glucose absorption activity of the isolated rat hemidiaphragm. This oil’s safety was studied by exploring its acute (doses 1, 3, 5, and 7 mL/kg) and subacute (doses 1 and 2 mL/kg) toxicities in albino mice and Wistar rats, respectively. The safety of the ODSO was also assessed by studying its effect on the HepG2 cell viability in vitro. The effect of ODSO, or combined with the insulin, on the glucose absorption activity of isolated rat hemidiaphragm was evaluated at the dose 1 g/L in vitro. The results demonstrated the safety of ODSO. Indeed, this study showed that this oil does not produce any mortality or signs of toxicity after the single-dose administration in mice. Additionally, the daily intake of the ODSO during four weeks does not induce a significant variation in the biochemical parameters and body weight of rats compared with the control group. Besides, the cell viability of HepG2 did not change in the presence of ODSO. On the other hand, the ODSO increased the glucose absorption activity of the isolated rat hemidiaphragm, and this activity was significantly enhanced when combined with insulin. This study confirms, on one side, the safety of this oil and its efficacy and, on the other side, encourages its potential use as a complement to treat diabetes.

Origanum genus is one of the most widely used herbs in folk medicine for its biological properties. The present investigation aims to characterize, for the first time, endemic Origanum grosii collected from the Taounate region, Morocco. This characterization was realized by determining the concentration of metals in different parts of the plant (flowers, leaves, and stems) by ICP-MS, and the results were studied statistically by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Phytochemical screening with the dosage of polyphenols and flavonoids has been conducted. To know more about this species, antihyperglycemic tests have been performed to highlight the presence or absence of the antidiabetic effect for this plant. An Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) has been performed on normal mice which were divided into two groups of six mice each. Group 1 (control group) was treated with distilled water, and group 2 was treated with an aqueous extract of O. grosii by gavage at 150 mg/kg. Digestive enzyme α-amylase inhibition assay has also been evaluated to study the inhibition effect of the studied extract using acarbose as a control. The results showed that the leaves exhibited a high concentration of trace elements (Ca, Mg, and K) and total absence of heavy metals, which were found in small quantities (Cr, Ni, and B) on the stems, and this makes the plant safe to use. On the other hand, tannins, flavonoids, triterpenes, and steroids were the major families strongly present in this species. The antidiabetic results showed that O. grosii have significantly reduced postprandial hyperglycemia after glucose loading in normal rats. It showed also that this species has a significant antihyperglycemic activity reflected by the inhibition of α-amylase. The one responsible for this property could be the synergy between the trace elements and the nature of the chemical families of O. grosii species, which can make this plant useful in the management of postprandial hyperglycemia.

Objective. In Morocco, Thymelaea hirsuta (T. hirsuta) (Thymelaeacea) is a medicinal plant widely used to treat and prevent diabetes. The present study aimed to evaluate the medium-term antidiabetic effect of aqueous extract (AqTh) and ethyl acetate fraction (EaTh) of Th and to investigate their putative protective effect on pancreatic islet degeneration, diabetic nephropathy, and liver damages in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. Methods. Experimental diabetes in rats was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg of STZ. During the treatment period (4 weeks), 200 mg/kg AqTh and 50 mg/kg EaTh were orally administrated daily to STZ-diabetic rats. A group of parameters including fasting blood glucose, biochemical parameters, and intestinal α-glucosidase inhibition were studied. Furthermore, histological study of the pancreas, kidney, liver, and aorta was also realized. Results. At the end of the treatment, both AqTh and EaTh had normalized fasting blood glucose to 1.08 and 1.25 g/l, respectively. AqTh has also reduced urinary creatinine and HbAc1. The EaTh showed inhibitory activity against intestinal α-glucosidase, whereas AqTh did not have this inhibitory effect. Furthermore, pancreas hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that AqTh or EaTh prevents pancreatic islet cell degeneration. As the same kidney, Masson’s trichrome staining has shown a significant prevention of renal fibrosis in AqTh- or EaTh-treated diabetic rats. On the other hand, liver hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that AqTh and EaTh prevent liver damage. Conclusion. We conclude that medium-term administration of AqTh and EaTh exerts significant antihyperglycemic effect in STZ-diabetic rats possibly through intestinal α-glucosidase inhibition and protection against pancreatic islet cell damage. Moreover, AqTh and EaTh treatment prevent nephropathy and liver complications in STZ-diabetic rats.

The present study aims to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of stem aqueous extract of Caralluma europaea (AECe) on carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced hepatic damage in Wistar rats. The animals were daily treated with the aqueous extract of C. europaea at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight for 14 days. CCl4 was injected (1 ml/kg, i.p.) two times, on the 7th and 14th days. At the end of the experimental period, all rats were anesthetized to collect blood for the assessment of biochemical parameters and then sacrificed to collect the liver for weighing. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated by measuring the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin (total and direct), malondialdehyde (MDA), total protein (TP), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-c ), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Based on the results obtained in this study, the administration of C. europaea before exposure to the administration of CCl4 conferred favorable hepatoprotective effect in rats. The treatment with AECe (250 mg/kg) exhibits a significant hepatoprotective effect by ameliorating CCl4-induced alterations of these biochemical parameters. Hence, C. europaea could be a potential medicinal herb that can be used in the future to prevent liver intoxication.

The objective was to study the effect of Calamintha officinalis methanolic fraction in the prevention of thrombosis and to explore its effect on primary and secondary hemostasis. The antithrombotic activity was evaluated by using the pulmonary thromboembolism experimental model. Platelet aggregation, tail bleeding time and coagulation assays were explored to elucidate the antithrombotic mechanism. For aggregation, washed platelets were incubated in presence of Calamintha officinalis methanolic fraction and then activated by different agonists (thrombin, ADP, collagen). The bleeding time was determined to measure the time between the tail incision and the moment the bleeding stops. The coagulation was explored by measuring prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time and plasmatic fibrinogen concentration. For ex vivo study, the animals were treated by the Calamintha officinalis methanolic fraction (250 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Then, platelet aggregation, tail bleeding time and coagulation parameters was studied. The results indicate that C. officinalis methanol fraction seems to exert in vivo an antithrombotic action (40% of protection). The in vitro investigations also show that this fraction significantly inhibits aggregation, increases bleeding time, coagulation times and reduces fibrinogen concentration. The chronic treatment of animals confirms the precedent data. This study demonstrates an antithrombotic effect of C. officinalis. The observed antiaggregant and anticoagulant effects could explain this activity.

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents have become a major public health problem affecting most countries worldwide. The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among public high school students in Eastern Morocco.A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and May 2014 among a sample of 2271 students (1086 girls and 1185 boys). References from the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) were used to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity.The prevalence of overweight and obesity reached 12.2% (14.2% in girls vs 10.4% in boys, P0.01) and 3.0% (3.1% in girls vs 2.8% in boys), respectively. Risk factors associated with overweight and obesity were urban residence (OR=1.76; [1.18-2.63]; P0.01), father's income≥5000MAD (OR=1.32; [1.02-1.70]; P0.05), father's overweight (including obesity) (OR=1.87; [1.38-2.54]; P0.001) and female sex (OR=1.31; [1.02-1.68]; P0.05).The prevalence of overweight/obesity has reached an alarming rate among high school students in the Eastern region of Morocco. The findings of the present study suggest an urgent need to set up a strategy to prevent and combat this epidemic.

Many medicinal plants around the world are used for therapeutic purposes against several diseases, including diabetes mellitus. Due to their composition of natural substances that are effective and do not represent side effects for users, unlike synthetic drugs, in this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Caralluma europaea (CE) on α-glucosidase activity in vitro; then the kinetics of the enzyme were studied with increasing concentrations of sucrose in order to determine the inhibition type of the enzyme. In addition, this effect of Caralluma europaea (CE) was confirmed in vivo using rats as an experimental animal model. Among the five fractions of CE, only the ethyl acetate fraction of C. europaea (EACe) induced a significant inhibition of α-glucosidase and its inhibition mode was competitive. The in vivo studies were conducted on mice and rats using glucose and sucrose as a substrate, respectively, to determine the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The results obtained showed that the EACe and the aqueous extract of C. europaea (AECe) have significantly reduced the postprandial hyperglycemia after sucrose and glucose loading in normal and diabetic rats. AECe, also, significantly decreased intestinal glucose absorption, in situ. The results obtained showed that Caralluma europaea has a significant antihyperglycemic activity, which could be due to the inhibition of α-glucosidase activity and enteric absorption of glucose.

Objectives: Diabetes is one of the most challenging health problems in the 21st century that brings a considerable economic burden on worldwide healthcare resources. Indeed, people with diabetes have a higher lifetime healthcare expenditure due to the long-term complications, which include micro and macrovascular complications. This study sought to estimate the frequency of diabetes complications, and to investigate the associated risk factors. Methodology: Data were obtained from the medical records of 2401 diabetic patients followed at the Reference Center of Diabetes and Chronic Diseases (RCD) in Oujda (Morocco) during the period 2006-2011. Results: Our sample of 2401 diabetic patients include 64.7% women. 32% of patients have one or more complications; retinopathy is the most frequent complication (16.8%), followed by nephropathy (12.4%), cardiovascular diseases (5.4%), neuropathy (3.6%) and diabetes foot (2%). Logistic regression in univariate followed by multivariate analysis has showed that age, duration of diabetes and high albuminuria are the major risk factors for the development of diabetic complications in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Conclusions: Nearly one third of diabetic patients were affected by at least one diabetic complication; retinopathy is the most common complication in these patients. Strengthening programs to improve diabetes management and to reduce the risk of these complications should be a high priority in order to control the cost of treatment.

Artemisia campestris L. (Asteraceae) is a perennial herb, commonly known as field wormwood. It is widespread in Asia, North America, Europe and North Africa. The different parts of this plant are used as anthelmintic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, emmenagogue, antivenom, and to treat digestive and cutaneous problems. An exhaustive bibliographic research of this plant has been carried out by means of scientific engines and databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, Science direct and SciFinder; as a result, it has been found that this herb possesses a rich phytochemical content and a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, insecticidal, antibacterial, antimutagenic, antivenom and antitumor effects. In an aim to highlight the importance of A. campestris L., this review has been established by discussing its ethnomedicinal, morphological, ecological, phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological studies.

Thymus algeriensis have been vastly utilized for intestinal disorders. The purpose of this investigation was to scrutinize the probable mechanism for its utilization in the spasm disorder. Aqueous extract of this medicinal plant (AqTA) was tested in vitro on rat and rabbit jejunum. The extract produced relaxation of rabbit jejunum. This relaxation does not depend on the adrenergic pathway, the AqTA induces inhibition irrespective of the presence or absence of adrenergic inhibitors. AqTA engendered a concentration-dependent (0.1-5 mg/ml) relaxation of carbamylcholine chloride (CCh) and K+ provoked tones in rat intestine with IC50 values of 2.06 ± 0.26 and 3.55 ± 0.48 (mg/ml) respectively. This extract likewise induced a dosedependent (0.1-3 mg/ml) rightward shift in the CCh and Ca++ dose-response curves. The AqTA alone has decreased more significantly the percentage of contraction of rat jejunum than the AqTA pre-incubated with atropine or hexamethonium then contracted with KCl; but there is no significant difference by those pre-incubated with methylene blue or L-NAME. When the intestine was pretreated with nifedipine and contracted by CCh, the antispasmodic effect provoked by AqTA with and without pre-incubation with nifedipine is statistically not significant. In conclusion AqTA acts possibly on the voltage dependent Ca++ channel and cholinergic receptors but did not act on adrenergic receptors, NO and guanylatecyclase pathway. This investigation may explicate some of its traditional utilization in gut illnesses.

Objective This study aims to evaluate the vasodilatory effect of Chenopodium ambrosioides on the isolated rat aorta, and to explore its mechanism of action. Methods The vasorelaxant effect and the mode of action of various extracts from the leaves of C. ambrosioides were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Wistar rats. In addition, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions were analyzed, using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques, for their polyphenolic content. Results The various active extracts of C. ambrosioides at four concentrations (10−3, 10−2, 10−1 and 1 mg/mL) relaxed the contraction elicited by phenylephrine, in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect seems to be endothelium-dependent, since the vasodilatory effect was entirely absent in denuded aortic rings. The vasorelaxant effect of the methanol fraction (MF) of C. ambrosioides at 1 mg/mL was also inhibited by atropine and tetraethylammonium. This effect remained unchanged by Nω-nitro- l -arginine methyl ester hydrochloride and glibenclamide. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that the leaves of C. ambrosioides are rich in phenolic and flavonoid derivatives. Conclusion These results suggest that the MF of C. ambrosioides produces an endothelium-dependent relaxation of the isolated rat aorta, which is thought to be mediated mainly through stimulation of the muscarinic receptors, and probably involving the opening of Ca2+-activated potassium channels.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Origanum majorana L. (Lamiaceae) is commonly used in Moroccan folk medicine to treat infantile colic, abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. Liquid stools and abdominal discomfort observed in acute infectious diarrhea are the consequences of imbalance between intestinal water secretion and absorption in the lumen, and relaxation of smooth muscle surrounding the intestinal mucosa. Aim of the study The objective of our study was to see if aqueous extract of Origanum majorana L. (AEOM) may exhibit an effect on those deleterious mechanisms. Materials and methods The effect of AEOM on electrogenic Cl- secretion and Na+ absorption, the two main mechanisms underlying water movement in the intestine, was assessed on intestinal pieces of mice intestine mounted, in vitro, in Ussing chambers. AEOM effect on muscle relaxation was measured on rat intestinal smooth muscle mounted in an isotonic transducer. Results 1) AEOM placed on the serosal (i.e. blood) side of the piece of jejunum entirely inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the Forskolin-induced electrogenic chloride secretion, with an IC50 = 654 ± 8 µg/mL. 2) AEOM placed on the mucosal (i.e. luminal) side stimulated in a concentration-dependent manner an electrogenic Na+ absorption, with an IC50 = 476.9 ± 1 µg/mL. 3) AEOM (1 mg/mL) inhibition of Forskolin-induced electrogenic secretion was almost entirely prevented by prior exposure to Ca++ channels or neurotransmitters inhibitors. 4) AEOM (1 mg/mL) proabsorptive effect was greater in the ileum and progressively declined in the jejunum, distal colon and proximal colon (minimal). 5) AEOM inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner smooth muscle Carbachol or KCl induced contraction, with an IC50 = 1.64 ± 0.2 mg/mL or 1.92 ± 0.8 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion the present results indicate that aqueous extract of Origanum majorana L. exhibit positive cooperative effects on the main mechanisms that are involved in acute infectious diarrhea.

Many medicinal plants around the world are used for therapeutic purposes against several diseases, including diabetes mellitus. Due to their composition of natural substances that are effective and do not represent side effects for users, unlike synthetic drugs, in this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of