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Chenopodium ambrosioides aerial parts have been historically employed in traditional medicine for addressing various ailments such as headaches, abdominal discomfort, joint issues, and respiratory disorders, alongside treatments for lice and warts. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive phytochemical analysis of C. ambrosioides and assess the acute and subacute toxicity of oral treatments using fractions in preclinical trials. Spectrophotometric analysis via LC–MS/MS was used to characterize the plant’s chemical composition. Acute toxicity evaluation followed Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development code 42 guidelines, conducted on adult male and female Wistar strain mice. Subsequently, Swiss mice were divided into six groups for the subacute toxicity study, receiving oral doses of 200 mg/kg extracts and fractions for 28 days. Daily observations and biochemical analyses were performed, with LC–MS/MS revealing a diverse array of compounds including organic acids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, rutin, hesperidin, nicotiflorine, and fumaric acid. Results indicated no lethality or alterations in body weight in treated groups, though some organ weight changes were noted. Biochemical analyses demonstrated values within the normal range for all groups, suggesting that the treatments did not induce adverse effects. Acute and subacute treatments with fractions did not result in lethality or toxic alterations at therapeutic doses, implying the safety of the product at appropriate levels. This study underscores the potential of C. ambrosioides as a safe therapeutic option warranting further exploration.

Chenopodium ambrosioides, a member of the Chenopodiaceae family, is renowned for its toxic properties. Despite its toxicity, it has been traditionally utilized in various communities, particularly in pediatric contexts, for its vermifuge, antispasmodic, and antipyretic attributes. This study aims to unravel the phytochemical composition present in organic fractions and aqueous extracts obtained from the aerial components of C. ambrosioides. Furthermore, our objective is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of these extracts and fractions, coupled with a comprehensive examination of their toxicological effects. Polyphenols were quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, flavonoids via the aluminum trichloride reagent AlCl3, and tannins using the vanillin method. Identification of bioactive compounds within the plant specimen was accomplished through GC-MS spectrophotometric analysis. The assessment of antioxidant activity employed DPPH, ferric (Fe3+) ion antioxidant reducing power (FRAP), ABTS, and TAC methods, with quercetin, catechin, and ascorbic acid serving as standards. Dermoprotective activity was studied using the ultraviolet absorption test. The GC-MS analysis conducted on the aqueous extracts (EAI and EAM) and assorted fractions (FCH, FE, FB, and FA) revealed the presence of diverse chemical families encompassing alcohols, acids, terpenes, steroids, and phenolic compounds. The components identified in the investigated samples, including trans-ascaridol glycol, palmitic acid, phenol, octadecadienoic acid, isoascaridol, eicosanoic acid, 2-methoxy-4-vinyl phenol, mexiletine, and thymol, are postulated as potential contributors to the observed antioxidant activity inherent in the plant extracts and fractions. Our findings highlight the remarkable antioxidant potential of Chenopodium ambrosioides, with the ethyl acetate fraction exhibiting the highest activity (IC50 = 0.54 mg/ml) in the DPPH test. In the FRAP and ABTS tests, the n-butanolic and ethyl acetate fractions demonstrated superior activity (IC50 = 4.43 mg/ml, 12.9 mg/ml and IC50 = 1.6 mg/ml, 4.54 mg/ml, respectively). Conversely, the TAC test revealed that the macerated aqueous extract displayed the highest activity (316.33 mg Eq AG/g), followed closely by the n-butanolic fraction (250.67 mg Eq AG/g). These outcomes can be attributed to the abundant presence of phenolic compounds in the n-butanolic and ethyl acetate fractions, as well as the macerated aqueous extract, playing a pivotal role in the observed antioxidant activity. Additionally, our investigation of the dermoprotective activity demonstrated robust efficacy in the ethyl acetate fraction (FE) and the n-butanolic fraction (FB) compared to the standard agents employed (ZnO and methyl salicylate). Overall, our comprehensive studies affirm that the extracts and fractions derived from C. ambrosioides manifest moderate antioxidant activities alongside significant dermoprotective potential, elucidated by the presence of phenolic compounds in moderate quantities within the plant.

This research is dedicated to investigating the antioxidant potential and phytochemical composition of three distinct extracts derived from Vitex agnus-castus L. These extracts, prepared through aqueous (EXA), ethanolic (EXE), and methanolic (EXM) maceration, were chosen based on prior assessments of total polyphenol content in extracts obtained from five solvents with differing polarities: water, methanol, ethanol, acetone, and butanol. The study initiated with a comprehensive phytochemical analysis focusing on the determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids. The quantification of total polyphenols was carried out using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while the AlCl3 method was employed to assess flavonoids. In evaluating the in vitro antioxidant activity, we employed two well-established methods, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The preliminary tests, gauging the efficacy of solvents, demonstrated that the order of optimal solvent selection was as follows: aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic, butanolic, and acetone. Consequently, the first three solvents were chosen for the preparation of the extracts. The phytochemical analysis unveiled that EXA exhibited the highest total polyphenol content, with an impressive value of 126.84 ± 1.24 mg EAG/g extract, whereas EXE exhibited the lowest concentration of total polyphenols, measuring at 117.26 ± 0.18 mg EAG/g extract. In contrast, EXM showcased a notably high flavonoid content, registering at 33.65 ± 1.04 mg EQ/g extract, while EXA displayed a comparatively lower flavonoid content at 14.93 ± 0.14 mg EQ/g extract. When assessing antioxidant properties, EXA emerged as the most potent against both DPPH and FRAP, recording values of 78.94 ± 1.84 and 203.27 ± 0.17 μg/ml, respectively. In contrast, the ethanolic extract exhibited relatively lower antioxidant activity, with values of 204.16 ± 1.87 μg/ml for DPPH and 307.10 ± 1.15 μg/ml for FRAP.

Natural substances extracted from plants have been increasingly studied and recognized, recently. Essential oils (EOs), for example, possess antioxidant and antibacterial properties, enabling their application across different sectors like agro-food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In Morocco, exceptional plant diversity, mirroring the diversity of ecosystems, has not yet revealed all its secrets. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of EOs from Thymus zygis L. ssp. gracilis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. collected in the El Hoceima and Mamora regions, respectively. The EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation employing a Clevenger-type apparatus. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses identified 54 constituents representing 92.65% of the total for T. zygis and 55 components representing 99.60% for E. camaldulensis. The primary components found in the EO of T. zygis are δ-terpineol (27.64%), followed by δ-3-carene (15.7%), thymol (14.17%), and dehydrolinalool (4.99%). The main compounds in E. camaldulensis EO are 1,8-cineole (43.61%), γ-terpinene (11.71%), α-terpineol (10.58%), and p-cymene (4.93%). The antioxidant properties of these oils were investigated by utilization of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test. The antibacterial activity was assessed against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli). Both EOs showed significant antioxidant activity but were less effective than reference antioxidants quercetin and catechin. Antibacterial studies demonstrated strong activity of T. zygis and E. camaldulensis EOs against the studied bacteria, as well as good inhibitory properties (minimum inhibitory concentration).

Cedrus atlantica is a Mediterranean medicinal plant used traditionally for the treatment of urinary tract infections and cancer. This study aims to evaluate the toxicity and analgesic properties of the stem extracts of Cedrus atlantica. Powdered stem of Cedrus atlantica was extracted successively with cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol, in a Soxhlet apparatus, to yield extracts F1, F2, and F3, respectively. An aqueous extract (F4) was obtained by maceration of the residue at room temperature. Acute oral toxicity of the extracts was assessed in mice according to OECD guidelines. Analgesic activity of the extracts (500 mg/kg) was evaluated using the writhing and tail immersion tests, with aspirin (125 mg/kg), and morphine (0.1 mg/kg) as positive controls, respectively. Acute toxicity studies showed that Cedrus atlantica stem extracts have no significant toxic effects at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. In the writhing test, the aqueous extract (F4) demonstrated the highest analgesic activity with 18.33±1.55 writhes (50.66% inhibition), followed by the ethyl acetate extract (F2) with 19.33±1.77 writhes (47.97% inhibition). F2 and F4 were more effective than aspirin which caused 21.66±1.88 writhes (41.70% inhibition). In the tail immersion test, F2 and F4 showed significant central analgesic activity, both extracts significantly increased the reaction times, with F2 peaking at 5.02±0.45 seconds and F4 at 4.92±0.30 seconds, compared to morphine with reaction time of 7.70±0.18 seconds. These findings therefore suggest that Cedrus atlantica stem extracts are relatively safe on acute oral administration, and have potential for use as analgesic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the Pinus halepensis extracts and determine its healing and antibacterial effects, and to evaluate the treatment of skin burns. Methods: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts and topical based on Aleppo pine plant extracts were prepared. Thirty male and female Wistar rats were used to study the cutaneous toxicity of extracts from the bark of P. halepensis. The extracts' healing potential for burn wounds were also assessed by evaluating the clinical and macroscopic aspects of the wounds. The antibacterial activity of crude extracts of P. halepensis as well as its wound healing abilities was verified in this investigation. Results: In animals with acute dermal toxicity, there were no signs of treatment-related toxicity or death. The extracts of these plants could be transformed into phytomedicines for the treatment of infected wounds. The results demonstrated that formulated ointments are successful in treating second-degree burns in rats and may be suitable for the short-term therapeutic treatment of second-degree burns. Conclusion: This study successfully answered our problem, regarding the efficacy of our extract for treating second-degree burns in rats. Further studies are needed to confirm these results by identifying the molecules responsible for these activities and examining their mechanism of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cedrus atlantica is a Mediterranean medicinal plant used to treat a number of ailments including cancer and urinary tract infections. This study is aimed to analyze the phytochemical constituents and evaluates the antioxidant activity of Cedrus atlantica stem extracts. Powdered stem of Cedrus atlantica underwent successive extraction with cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol using Soxhlet apparatus to obtain cyclohexane (F1), ethyl acetate (F2), and ethanol (F3) extracts. The marc was macerated with water to obtain the aqueous extract (F4). Phytochemical screening was performed following standard procedures. Total phenolic, flavonoid, flavonol, and tannin contents were also determined. The extracts were subjected to gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and TAC assays. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, quinines, coumarins, terpenoids, anthraquinones, sterols, and saponins in the plant. F3 showed the highest content of total polyphenols (237.23±1.61 mgGAE/g extract) and tannins (189.4±0.76 mgCE/g extract), while F2 exhibited the highest content of total flavonoids (81.53±1.13 mgQE/g extract) and flavonols (33.4±0.16 mgQE/g extract). F3 also demonstrated the most potent antioxidant efficacy in the DPPH (IC50 = 19.40±0.01 µg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 21.24±0.002 µg/mL), FRAP (EC50 = 94.36±2.51 µg/mL), and TAC (780.97±4.86 µg AAE/g extract) assays. GC-MS analysis identified acids, phenolic compounds, terpenes, and steroids in the extracts, suggesting their contribution to the antioxidant activity exhibited by the plant extracts. These observations underscore the therapeutic potential of the plant and justify its traditional medicinal application across various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the acute and subacute toxicity as well as the phytochemical composition of two extracts and three fractions of Ammi majus L. Methods: The aqueous extracts were prepared separately by maceration for 48 h and by infusion for 1 h, while the fractions were prepared by the Soxhlet extractor, successively employing cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. The acute toxicity study was carried out in accordance with the OECD N°423 guideline at a single dose (2 000 mg/kg) in mice for 14 days. The subacute toxicity study was performed by a daily oral administration of 250 mg/kg for 10 days and 100 mg/kg doses for 28 days. Phytochemical screening was performed using staining and precipitation reactions, while the chemical characterization of some analytes was detected by HPLCMS/MS analysis. Results: In the acute toxicity study, no signs of toxicity such as convulsion, salivation, diarrhea, sleep and coma were observed during 30 minutes and 14 days, so the lethal dose was higher than 2 000 mg/kg for each extract and fraction. The subacute toxicity results showed that at a dose of 250 mg/kg, 61.10% of the animals died and the rest developed morbidity. On the other hand, at a dose of 100 mg/kg, all the animals were still alive after 28 days, with no morbidity and the biochemical parameters were normal with no abnormalities in the liver, kidneys and pancreas. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, and free quinones and the absence of alkaloids and anthocyanins. Conclusions: The extracts and fractions of Ammi majus L. are not toxic in the short and long term with a varied chemical composition. Toxicological tests on animals other than rodents and in the long term (more than 28 days) are needed to further confirm the safety of Ammi majus extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Morocco, traditional medicine utilizes many toxic plants for cancer treatment, despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness. Further research may be able to explore and discover the potential therapeutic effects of these plants' bioactive molecules with antioxidant and anticancer properties. Based on our review, we have determined that the 13 plants under examination possess various pharmacological and biological activities due to their diverse phytochemical composition. Despite their toxicity, these plants have a history of traditional use in Morocco for treating multiple diseases. Further research, including preclinical and clinical trials, should be conducted to investigate the potential therapeutic benefits of these plants. Moroccan cuisine commonly incorporates gruels, herbal drinks, and spicy beverages, which possess significant health benefits, including chemo-preventive properties and natural inhibitors against certain infections. These properties may aid in reducing the incidence of cancer and potentially have therapeutic effects in various human pathologies when consumed in appropriate amounts and in combination with a healthy lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on identifying active compounds within Chenopodium ambrosioides extracts and fractions, with a specific emphasis on their potential analgesic and antidiabetic properties. The motivation arises from the reported therapeutic effects of the plant and the desire to pinpoint the compounds responsible for these benefits. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry spectrophotometric analysis was employed to characterize chemical constituents in the aqueous extracts (infused aqueous extract and macerated aqueous extract) and fractions (cyclohexane fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, butanol fraction, remaining aqueous fraction) of C. ambrosioides. Animal models were used to examine the analgesic activity, while α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzyme assays were used to investigate the antidiabetic effect. Throughout the investigation, several chemical families were found, including phenolic compounds, alcohols, acids, terpenes, steroids, and others. Trans-ascaridol glycol, palmitic acid, phenol, octadecadienoic acid, isoascaridol, eicosanoic acid, 2-methoxy-4-vinyl phenol, mexiletine, and thymol were among the significant chemicals found. At a dose of 500 mg/m, starting with α-amylase inhibition, among the extracts, EAF (59 ± 0.7 μg/mL) showed the highest potency, followed by FA (129 ± 0.22 μg/mL), FB (140 ± 0.9 μg/mL), and EAM (178 ± 0.9 μg/mL). Interestingly, EAI demonstrated a relatively weak inhibition (430 ± 0.2 μg/mL), and no result was reported for FCH in this category. Regarding α-glucosidase inhibition, the most potent activity was observed with EAM (1.4 ± 0.7 μg/mL), The other extracts demonstrated varying levels of inhibition, with EAI (4.4 ± 0.5 μg/mL) and EAF (140 ± 1.9 μg/mL) showing moderate activity. FA (25 ± 0.9 μg/mL) and FB (34 ± 0.3 μg/mL) exhibited lower inhibition compared to EAM but still outperformed acarbose in this test. The observed synergistic effects of phenolic compounds in Chenopodium ambrosioides provide insights into the biological properties contributing to its reported analgesic and antidiabetic effects. The study underscores the potential of natural plant products for pharmaceutical applications, especially in enzymatic inhibition. All things considered, these results add to the expanding corpus of information about substances originating from plants and their uses in industry and health., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)