Search

AbstractThe genus Artemisia belongs to the Asteraceae family, known for its many pharmacological properties. This study focuses on the chemical characterization of two Algerian species: Artemisia absinthium (AA) and Artemisia herba-alba (AHA). Samples from eight different stations were subjected to four extraction procedures using hexane as solvent: maceration, reflux, Soxhlet, and ultrasound. After determining the yield, total phenolics were quantified in the 32 samples. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by three tests (i.e. TAC, DPPH, and β-Carotene assays). The results showed that the reflux method was able to isolate low levels of phenols but presented a better antioxidant activity, compared to the other extraction protocols. Regarding the two plant species, A. absinthium revealed a higher antioxidant power. GC–MS analysis led us to identify a total of 68 chemical constituents from all hexane samples of the two species. Extracts were mainly dominated by fatty acids (FAs), monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, without any significant variability based on the applied method. HPLC-DAD analysis proved that the highest content in artemisinin was present in A. absinthium extracts obtained by Soxhlet, with an amount estimated at 15.09 ± 0.62 µg per mg of plant material, followed by ultrasound extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To decrease periodontal pathogens and increase the number of beneficial bacteria, probiotics and bioactive compounds made via microbial bioconversion are recently used. In addition, the interest regarding probiotics-mediated bioconversion with popular medicinal plants is increasing. Artemisia herba-alba, a type of wormwood, has recently been attention as a medicinal plant due to its various bioactive compounds. Therefore, we developed bioconverted milk containing A. herba-alba that effectively inhibited periodontal pathogens and α-glucosidase. To select the appropriate lactic acid bacteria for the probiotic candidate strain, 74 strains of lactic acid bacteria were screened. Among them, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SMFM2016-RK was chosen as the probiotic due to its beneficial characteristics such as high acid and bile tolerance, antioxidant activity, and α-glucosidase inhibition. Based on the minimal bactericidal concentration against three periodontal pathogens, the following appropriate concentrations of Artemisia herba-alba extract were added to milk: 5 mg/mL of A. herba-alba ethanol extract and 25 mg/mL of A. herba-alba hot-water extract. Four bioconverted milks (BM), BM1, BM2, BM3, and BM4, were produced by combining L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK alone, L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK and ethanol extract, L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK and hot-water extract, and L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK with both extracts. As a result of antimicrobial activity, BM3 inhibited the growth of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis the most, and BM4 suppressed the growth of Fusobacterium nucleatum the most. In addition, bioconverted milk containing A. herba-alba (BM2, BM3, and BM4) inhibited α-glucosidase more effectively than BM1. The whole genome of L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK was obtained, and 3135 CDS, 67 tRNA, and 16 RNA were predicted. The genome annotation of L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK revealed 11 CDS related to proteolysis and amino acid metabolism and 2 CDS of phenolic acid-metabolizing enzymes. In conclusion, A. herba-alba-added milk bioconverted by L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK displayed both the growth inhibitory effect on periodontal pathogens and the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity; thus, it necessitates to evaluate the effects on the alleviation of periodontal diseases and glycemic control through future animal experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Associated Arthritis (IBD-associated arthritis) poses a significant challenge, intertwining the complexities of both inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and arthritis, significantly compromising patient quality of life. While existing medications offer relief, these drugs often initiate adverse effects, necessitating the requirement for safer therapeutic alternatives. Artemisia herba-alba, a traditional medicinal plant known for its anti-inflammatory properties, emerges as a potential candidate. Our computational study focused on examining 20 bioactive compounds derived from A. herba-alba for potential treatment of IBD-associated arthritis. These compounds detected in A. herba-alba include camphor, alpha-thujone, eucalyptol, cis-chrysanthenyl acetate, vicenin-2, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, hispidulin, isoschaftoside, isovitexin, patuletin-3-glucoside, vanillic acid, rutin, schaftoside, lopinavir, nelfinavir, quercetin, artemisinin, gallic acid, and cinnamic acid. Following rigorous analysis encompassing pharmacokinetics, toxicity profiles, and therapeutic targets, compounds with favorable, beneficial characteristics were identified. In addition, comparative analysis with disease-gene associations demonstrated the interconnectedness of inflammatory pathways across diseases. Molecular docking studies provided mechanistic insights indicating this natural plant components potential to modulate critical inflammatory pathways. Overall, our findings indicate that A. herba-alba-derived compounds may be considered as therapeutic agents for IBD-associated arthritis, warranting further experimental validation and clinical exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthritis is a debilitating condition impacting the quality of life for millions worldwide, characterized by pain and inflammation. Understanding the mechanisms of arthritis and developing effective treatments are crucial. This study investigated the hydroethanolic extract of Artemisia herba-alba for its protective potential against arthritis hallmarks, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation in vitro. It also assessed its in vivo anti-arthritic activity. The phytochemical analysis identified various compounds within the extract, with high concentrations of polyphenols and flavonoids. These compounds are associated with numerous health benefits, making A. herba-alba a potential source of valuable phytochemicals. A. herba-alba demonstrated a notable effect in body weight loss, paw edema, and arthritic severity. Histopathological examination revealed structural improvements in bone and muscle tissues, emphasizing its therapeutic potential in managing chronic arthritis. Furthermore, while these findings are promising, further studies are necessary to delve deeper into the mechanisms underlying the observed hematological changes and to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the in vivo results. This research sets the stage for continued exploration, ultimately aiming to unlock the full potential of A. herba-alba in addressing chronic arthritis and enhancing the lives of those affected by this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia herba-alba Asso is an endemic plant from North-East Morocco offering a diverse range of pharmacological, cosmetic, and agro-ecological uses. However, Artemisia herba-alba has not been well exploited in the field of plant protection (post-harvest diseases). This is why the main objective of the present study is to evaluate the antifungal and antioxidant activities of extracts or the essential oil of this plant. Antifungal activity was assessed against Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, and Penicillium digitatum using the agar dilution method for the aqueous extracts and fumigation for the essential oil. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH scavenging test and the FRAP ferric ion reduction capacity. The chemical composition of the extracts was determined by HPLC and that of the essential oil by GC-MS/MS. In addition, the polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content was determined using colorimetric methods. The results of this study showed that the total content of polyphenols (217.60 mg GAE/g E), flavonoids (43.59 mg QE/g E), and tannins (32.58 mg GAE/g E) was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the ethanolic extract than in the aqueous and hexanoic extracts. Moreover, the HPLC analysis of the aqueous extract revealed the presence of six compounds, namely, catechin, gallic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, caffeic acid, and rutin. In addition, the ethanolic extract was found to contain seven phenolic compounds. On the one hand, 35 compounds were identified in the essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba, representing 99.7% of the total. According to this study, the dominant compounds in the essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba Asso are camphor (46.57%), endo-borneol (5.65%), eucalyptol (5.64%), and thymol (3.85%). Furthermore, the biological evaluation showed that the extracts and essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba have significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The findings show that Artemisia herba-alba is a plant that can be used as a source of antifungal chemicals to prevent putrefaction of foodstuffs and, more specifically, postharvest diseases.

In samples of Artemisia campestris (AC), Artemisia herba-alba (AHA) and Salvia jordanii (SJ) essential oils, up to 200 distinct volatile compounds were identified. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–olfactometry–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-O-MS), different panelists detected 52 of these compounds. This study offers the most detailed analysis of bioactive compound profiles conducted so far. The most abundant compounds identified were curcumene, making up 12.96% of AC, and camphor, constituting 21.67% of AHA and 19.15% of SJ. The compounds with the highest odor activity value (OAV) were (E,Z)-2,4-nonadienal (geranium, pungent), 3-nonenal (cucumber) and 2-undecenal (sweet) in AC, AHA and SJ, respectively. AHA essential oil showed significant antioxidant activity (IC50 = 41.73 ± 4.14 mg/g) and hydroxyl radical generation (hydroxylation percentage = 29.62 ± 3.14), as assessed by the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. In terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), the strongest antioxidant activity was obtained for SJ essential oil (antioxidant activity of the essential oils, AOX = 337.49 ± 9.87). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia herba-alba (AHA), known as sheeh in Jordan, is recommended by regional traditional healers for the treatment of a variety of diseases. AHA has been used in folk medicine to treat colds, coughing, bronchitis, intestinal disturbances, diarrhea, neuralgias, arterial hypertension, and diabetes. The objectives of the current study were to identify the chemical compositions of the essential oil extracted from dried leaf powder of AHA cultivated in Jordan and investigate its antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The essential oil was isolated using hydro distillation, and the identification of artemisia herba-alba essential oil (AHEO) composition was performed using validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antibacterial activity of AHEO was assessed against escherichia coli, pseudomonas aeruginosa, klebsiella pneumonia, and staphylococcus aureus and two clinical isolates (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus epidermidis [MRSE]) using a disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values, using the micro-dilution broth method. Additionally, antioxidant activities were determined using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. The results revealed that the yield of AHEO was 4.41% v/w, with nearly 22 identified compounds, constituting approximately 96.80% of the total mass of essential oils. Monoterpenoids was the major compounds (71.90%), with alpha pinene being the major component, accounting for 17.20% of the composition. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 43.97 mg GAE/g and 30.11 mg CE/g, respectively. The antibacterial activity of AHEO against MRSE exhibited the highest inhibitory effect, while E.coli showed the highest MBC value. Furthermore, AHEO demonstrated significant antioxidant activity (IC50= 64.57 and 34.01 for DPPH and ABTS, respectively). The results indicate that AHEO possess good antioxidant and antibacterial properties, suggesting that they may be used as a supplementary food and antimicrobial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oils (EOs) of Coriandrum sativum, Carum carvi and Artemisia herba-alba have been screened for their insecticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum, Sitophilus oryzae and Lasioderma serricorne and for their antimicrobial activity against Gram (+), Gram (-) bacteria and against yeast strain. Artemisia herba-alba EO showed good insecticidal activity with 24-h against L. serricorne (LC50 = 29.7) and against T. castaneum (66.1 µg/mL) and antibacterial potentials against Staphyloccocus aureus (MIC = 0.125 mg/mL). The antimicrobial activities of C. carvi EO, rich in D-carvone (72.4%) and D-limonene (23.8%) were particularly remarkable, with LC50 of 27.9 µg/mL against L. serricorne. Similarly, coriander EO, with linalool (64.6%) as the major compound was selected for its antimicrobial activities (Candida albicans, MIC = 1 mg/mL). These findings demonstrated that the tested EOs could be used as a natural source of insecticidal and antimicrobial activity, which may have a variety of uses in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) can infect millions of people worldwide causing mild to life-threating infections. The current study demonstrates the first comparative anti-HSV type 1 activity and phytochemical investigation of Artemisia herba-alba and Thymus capitatus collected from Egypt and Libya. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis allowed the identification of 56 and 38 compounds in the Egyptian and Libyan Artemisia herba-alba ethanolic extracts, respectively, in addition to 46 and 50 compounds in the Egyptian and Libyan Thymus capitatus ethanolic extracts, respectively. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of their corresponding essential oils revealed the presence of 15, 17, 17 and 8 compounds in Egyptian and Libyan Artemisia herba-alba and Thymus capitatus, respectively. The major chemical classes of the identified compounds were phenolic acids, flavonoids and oxygenated monoterpenes. Evaluation of the anti-HSV1 activities of the studied extracts showed that the Egyptian Thymus capitatus ethanolic extracts were the most potent extract with more than 200-fold reduction in the viral PFU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To decrease periodontal pathogens and increase the number of beneficial bacteria, probiotics and bioactive compounds made via microbial bioconversion are recently used. In addition, the interest regarding probiotics-mediated bioconversion with popular medicinal plants is increasing. Artemisia herba-alba, a type of wormwood, has recently been attention as a medicinal plant due to its various bioactive compounds. Therefore, we developed bioconverted milk containing A. herba-alba that effectively inhibited periodontal pathogens and α-glucosidase. To select the appropriate lactic acid bacteria for the probiotic candidate strain, 74 strains of lactic acid bacteria were screened. Among them, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SMFM2016-RK was chosen as the probiotic due to its beneficial characteristics such as high acid and bile tolerance, antioxidant activity, and α-glucosidase inhibition. Based on the minimal bactericidal concentration against three periodontal pathogens, the following appropriate concentrations of Artemisia herba-alba extract were added to milk: 5 mg/mL of A. herba-alba ethanol extract and 25 mg/mL of A. herba-alba hot-water extract. Four bioconverted milks (BM), BM1, BM2, BM3, and BM4, were produced by combining L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK alone, L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK and ethanol extract, L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK and hot-water extract, and L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK with both extracts. As a result of antimicrobial activity, BM3 inhibited the growth of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis the most, and BM4 suppressed the growth of Fusobacterium nucleatum the most. In addition, bioconverted milk containing A. herba-alba (BM2, BM3, and BM4) inhibited α-glucosidase more effectively than BM1. The whole genome of L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK was obtained, and 3135 CDS, 67 tRNA, and 16 RNA were predicted. The genome annotation of L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK revealed 11 CDS related to proteolysis and amino acid metabolism and 2 CDS of phenolic acid-metabolizing enzymes. In conclusion, A. herba-alba-added milk bioconverted by L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK displayed both the growth inhibitory effect on periodontal pathogens and the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity; thus, it necessitates to evaluate the effects on the alleviation of periodontal diseases and glycemic control through future animal experiments.

This article is part of the contribution to the development of two medicinal plants widely used by the Moroccan population: white wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba) andArâr (Juniperus phoenicea), species belonging to the Asteraceae and Cupressaceae families, respectively. The present work was conducted to investigate the chemical composition and anticorrosive properties of essential oils (EOs) extracted from these plants. The chemical analysis of the essential oils (EOs) was carried out by GC-MS/MS. Potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and quantum chemical calculations by density-functional theory at B3lYP were used to study the anticorrosive effect of the researched oils on mild steel in 1 M hydrochloric acid solution. Moreover, SEM-EDX analysis was used to identify the surface morphology of mild steel surface. GC-MSMS results showed the presence of 32 potentially active compounds in the EOs of Artemisia herba-alba. The average yield of the EOs was about 1.39 ± 0.17 mL/100 g dry matter. Beta thujone (30.07%) and alpha thujone (13.32%) are the main components, while for the EOs of Juniperus phoenicea, the study showed the presence of 30 constituents, with alpha-pinene (43.61%) and manoyl oxide (11.5%) as the main components. The average yield of HE was 1.10 ± 0.03 mL/100 g dry matter. The findings demonstrated an important anticorrosive action of EOs from Artemisia herba-alba and Juniperus phoenicea. Notably, the experimental results showed good efficiency of the studied essential oils and correlated well with the density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results of potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed that hydrazone acted as a mixed-type inhibitor. The EIS results showed an increase in charge transfer resistance accompanied by a noticeable decrease in Cdl values, revealing that both studied oils were effective as reliable inhibitors for the protection of mild steel in 1 M HCl solution. Also, the efficiency decreased with decreasing inhibitor concentrations. Surface studies ensure the effectiveness of both investigated oils and the reduction of the surface roughness of mild steel. Furthermore, DFT results of the major constituents of Artemisia herba-alba and Juniperus phoenicea EOs revealed insights into the chemical reactivity of the tested oils while supporting the experimental conclusions and showed outstanding adsorption ability of both investigated EOs on the steel surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are traditionally utilized in Algeria to treat many disorders, such as Artemisia herba-alba (Asteraceae family), which is a North African species. In Algeria, it is characterized by an excellent fodder fee and by a composition of essential oils having antiseptic, vermifuge, and antispasmodic properties. The present study aims to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and chemical composition of the essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba found in northeast Algeria (Khenchela region). Artemisia herba-alba essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and its chemical composition was identified by GC/MS. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the extracted essential oil was determined using the DPPH assay. The agar disc diffusion method was used to determine how well the essential oil killed germs. The essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS, revealing 35 constituents, of which the major ones were identified as Thujone (10.55%), borneol (5.98%), and eucalyptol (1.63%). The observed IC50 values for the DPPH assay were 18.44 ± 0.006 mg/mL. On the other hand, this oil proved effective against all tested strains in the 22.67 ± 3.215 mm range, including Listeria innocua CIP 74915.

In samples of Artemisia campestris (AC), Artemisia herba-alba (AHA) and Salvia jordanii (SJ) essential oils, up to 200 distinct volatile compounds were identified. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–olfactometry–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-O-MS), different panelists detected 52 of these compounds. This study offers the most detailed analysis of bioactive compound profiles conducted so far. The most abundant compounds identified were curcumene, making up 12.96% of AC, and camphor, constituting 21.67% of AHA and 19.15% of SJ. The compounds with the highest odor activity value (OAV) were (E,Z)-2,4-nonadienal (geranium, pungent), 3-nonenal (cucumber) and 2-undecenal (sweet) in AC, AHA and SJ, respectively. AHA essential oil showed significant antioxidant activity (IC50 = 41.73 ± 4.14 mg/g) and hydroxyl radical generation (hydroxylation percentage = 29.62 ± 3.14), as assessed by the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. In terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), the strongest antioxidant activity was obtained for SJ essential oil (antioxidant activity of the essential oils, AOX = 337.49 ± 9.87).

Xerobion kadyrbekovi n. sp. is described from apterous viviparous females collected on Artemisia herbaalba in Los Monegros (Zaragoza, Spain). Xerobion is a genus of xerophilous aphids, typically hosted on species of Amaranthaceae and Asteraceae and spread from the Iberian Peninsula to the Russian Far East. The current taxonomic extension of the genus was established few years ago by Kadyrbekov. It currently has 21 species (including the species here described), eight of them are known in Europe west of Russia and four in Spain. The characteristics of the other 20 species in the genus have been considered for the description of Xerobion kadyrbekovi n. sp., especially those of X. caspicae, with which it shares more characteristics than with any other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia herba-alba is among the most important pastoral species, characterized by a high fodder value, especially for ruminants. However, Artemisia herba-alba steppes in Morocco are undergoing continuous degradation. Therefore, understanding the multiplication of this highly appreciated species is essential for its preservation and the rehabilitation of degraded pastures. The present study’s objective is to understand techniques of sexual and asexual multiplication of Artemisia herba-alba: germination and cutting. For sexual multiplication, three factors were considered: age of seeds, their origins and pre-treatments. For asexual multiplication, two factors were tested, i) the effect of Indole Acetic Acid IAA and ii) the cuttings type effect on the rooting of Artemisia herba-alba cuttings. The obtained results showed a high germination rate for freshly harvested seeds (88%), a decrease in the germination rate of seeds over the years, and those of the same year but lately collected (19.78%). Also, there is an increase is observed in the germination rate of seeds soaked for 48 h (21%) compared to the control (17%). In addition, an inhibitory effect of some IAA concentrations on the cuttings rooting was noted. The best rooting rate was observed in herbaceous cuttings control, collected in March (50%). Therefore, it can be concluded that cuttings represent the most efficient and promising technique for the propagation of Artemisia herba-alba.

In this modest work, a local biopolymer (CHA), biodegradable, non-toxic, and soluble in acidic media, was extracted from the plant Artemisia herba-alba located in the eastern region of Morocco, and characterized by FT-IR, in order to valorize it as a corrosion inhibitor of mild steel in 1 M HCl medium. The electrochemical tests show that the extract is an excellent corrosion protective agent, reaching a maximum value of 96.17% at the concentration of 800 mg/L in the inhibitor. The potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) curves indicate the mixed behavior of the extract, to reduce the current density from 3.445 mA/cm2 to 0.104 mA/cm2 in the presence of 800 mg/L in the inhibitor. The biopolymer CHA of the extract of Artemisia herba-alba undergoes the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, whose adsorption energy is −20.75 kJ/mol, which is attributed to the presence of electrostatic and covalent bonds. In addition, the visualization of the metal surface by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicates the formation of a protective layer formed by the extracts of Artemisia herba-alba, which confirms the protective characteristic of the extract used. Theoretical investigations by DFT, MD, and MC confirm previous experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Morocco, the endemic Artemisia herba-alba is well known by its traditional uses and health benefits. The search for natural, safe, and effective antibacterial and antifungal agents from plants is in high demand due to microbial and fungal resistance to conventional synthetic antibiotics and antifungal drugs. In this study, the A. herba-alba was collected from the region of Fez-Boulemane during the periods of March, June, and September. Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from the aerial part of the plant by the hydrodistillation method. The chemical constituents were determined using GC-MS as analytical tools. The antimicrobial activities of different oils were tested using the macrodilution method. The results showed the difference in the yields between the three EOs (0.49, 1.74, 1.30% (mL/100 g)), respectively, as well as in their corresponding chemical compositions. The main constituents revealed by GC-MS are higher contents of oxygenated monoterpenes (84.7, 84.4, 81%), such as cis chrysanthenyl acetate (30, 26.7, 27.6%), β-thujone (23.2, 12.9, 15.4%), camphor (9.76, 14.3, 15.8%), chrysanthenone (2.4, 1, 14%), 1,8-cineole (1.5, 11.7, 11.8%), trans β-dihydroterpineol (7.8, 7.2, 6.9%), α-thujone (4.8, 3, 5.4%), and sesquiterpenic davanone (3.9, 1.5, 1.4%), respectively. The three EOs biological activities' results showed significant antimicrobial effects against four bacteria tested (E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus, M. luteus), with the MIC values ranging from 0.1 to 0.03% (v/v), as well as interesting antifungal effects on both wood rot fungi against four fungi examined (G. trabeum, P. placenta, C. puteana, C. versicolor) and molds against three microorganisms tested (A. niger, P. digitatum, P. expansum), with MIC values ranging from 0.2 to 0.03% (v/v) and 0.4 to 0.03% (v/v), respectively. The June and September EO samples showed more potent activities than those collected during March. Our research findings showed quantitative variability in both EO contents and chemical compositions, which could be due to the phenological stages, climatic conditions of growth, and harvesting periods. The potent results of the antimicrobial/antifungal activities were provided by the EOs of June and September and might be correlated to the contribution and synergism effect of all oxygenated monoterpenes. These results support the possible application of A. herba-alba EOs as natural and safe antibacterial agents, and an effective alternative to synthetic drugs, enabling the prevention and treatment of certain pathogenic infections in food and health, and the preservation of wood alteration against fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia herba-alba (AHA) is a traditionally used plant to treat various diseases, including diabetes and metabolic dysfunctions. Plant extracts are generally explored empirically without a deeper assessment of their mechanism of action. Here, we describe a combinatorial study of biochemical, molecular, and bioinformatic (metabolite-protein pharmacology network) analyses to elucidate the mechanism of action of AHA and shed light on its multilevel effects in the treatment of diabetes-related advanced glycation end-products (AGE)-induced liver damages. The extract's polyphenols and flavonoids content were measured and then identified via LC-Q-TOF–MS/MS. Active compounds were used to generate a metabolite-target interaction network via Swiss Target Prediction and other databases. The extract was tested for its antiglycation and aggregation properties. Next, THLE-2 liver cells were challenged with AGEs, and the mechanistic markers were measured [TNF-α, IL-6, nitric oxide, total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and caspase 3]. Metabolite and network screening showed the involvement of AHA in diabetes, glycation, liver diseases, aging, and apoptosis. Experimental confirmation showed that AHA inhibited protein modification and AGE formation. Additionally, AHA reduced inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNFα), oxidative stress markers (NO, LPO), and apoptosis (Caspase 3). On the other hand, cellular total antioxidant capacity was restored to normal levels. The combinatorial study showed that AHA regulates AGE-induced liver damages through MAPK-AKT and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways. This report highlights the combination of experimental and network pharmacology for the exact elucidation of AHA mechanism of action as a multitarget option in the therapy of diabetes and AGEs-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is part of the contribution to the development of two medicinal plants widely used by the Moroccan population: white wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba) andArâr (Juniperus phoenicea), species belonging to the Asteraceae and Cupressaceae families, respectively. The present work was conducted to investigate the chemical composition and anticorrosive properties of essential oils (EOs) extracted from these plants. The chemical analysis of the essential oils (EOs) was carried out by GC-MS/MS. Potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and quantum chemical calculations by density-functional theory at B3lYP were used to study the anticorrosive effect of the researched oils on mild steel in 1 M hydrochloric acid solution. Moreover, SEM-EDX analysis was used to identify the surface morphology of mild steel surface. GC-MSMS results showed the presence of 32 potentially active compounds in the EOs of Artemisia herba-alba. The average yield of the EOs was about 1.39 ± 0.17 mL/100 g dry matter. Beta thujone (30.07%) and alpha thujone (13.32%) are the main components, while for the EOs of Juniperus phoenicea, the study showed the presence of 30 constituents, with alpha-pinene (43.61%) and manoyl oxide (11.5%) as the main components. The average yield of HE was 1.10 ± 0.03 mL/100 g dry matter. The findings demonstrated an important anticorrosive action of EOs from Artemisia herba-alba and Juniperus phoenicea. Notably, the experimental results showed good efficiency of the studied essential oils and correlated well with the density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results of potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed that hydrazone acted as a mixed-type inhibitor. The EIS results showed an increase in charge transfer resistance accompanied by a noticeable decrease in Cdl values, revealing that both studied oils were effective as reliable inhibitors for the protection of mild steel in 1 M HCl solution. Also, the efficiency decreased with decreasing inhibitor concentrations. Surface studies ensure the effectiveness of both investigated oils and the reduction of the surface roughness of mild steel. Furthermore, DFT results of the major constituents of Artemisia herba-alba and Juniperus phoenicea EOs revealed insights into the chemical reactivity of the tested oils while supporting the experimental conclusions and showed outstanding adsorption ability of both investigated EOs on the steel surface.

Abstract Background Haemonchosis is a serious disease affecting ruminants’ productivity worldwide. Medicinal plants are deemed one of the most natural bio-products safely used as alternatives to the synthetic anthelmintics. In the present study, comparative efficacy of crude ethanolic extracts (CEEs) of Artemisia herba-alba (A. herba-alba), Balanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) and Allium sativum (A. sativum) as alternative treatments was tested on Haemonchus contortus ( H. contortus). An in vitro test to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of various concentrations of extracts at 25, 30 and 50 mg/ml was accomplished on motility and viability of adult worms in comparison with albendazole, reference drug at 10 μg/ml at various time intervals. An in vivo test was carried out in lambs experimentally infected with H. contortus to detect anthelmintic activity of CEEs of A. herba-alba and B. aegyptiaca compared to albendazole. Fifteen parasite-free Baladi Egyptian lambs aged 4–8 months old were categorized into five groups, each of three lambs as follows: G1 was kept as uninfected untreated one, G2 was utilized as infected untreated group, G3 was given CEE of A. herba-alba, G4 was received CEE of B. aegyptiaca, and G 5 was treated with albendazole. Results The in vitro test revealed that CEE of B. aegyptiaca had the most significant anthelmintic activity on adult H. contortus followed by A. herba-alba, while A. sativum was of the lowest effect. The in vivo test showed that the CEE of B. aegyptiaca achieved an excellent faecal egg reduction (100%) at the 7th day post-treatment. The most efficient treatments that improved the haematological parameters and regained the level of serum total protein, albumin and A/G ratio, serum globulin, SGoT, SGPT, urea and creatinine to the almost normal levels were CEE of B. aegyptiaca, albendazole and CEE of A. herba-alba, respectively. Conclusions This study highlighted the marked anthelmintic potency of the CEEs of B. aegyptiaca and A. herba-alba on H. contortus and the superiority of CEE of B. aegyptiaca as a talented anti-parasitic medicinal plant for sheep.

This work aims to study cultivable actinobacterial isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Artemisia herba-alba Asso; an important component of the Mediterranean dry steppe flora. The isolates functional attributes with respect to antifungal, in vitro growth-promotion properties and enzymatic capacities, were studied. A total of eleven cultivable actinobacterial strains were isolated and identified as Streptomyces species by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The eleven Streptomyces strains were positive for the production of almost all the hydrolytic enzymes tested, while the majority had ACC deaminase activity (6 strains) and exhibited ammonia (7 strains), siderophores production (9 strains) and phosphate solubilization (6 strains). Two out of the eleven strains named Streptomyces sp. BKS30 and BKS40 showed antifungal activities. One promising Streptomyces sp. strain BKS30 that was in-depth characterized morphologically and biochemically was further tested for its antifungal activity for the filtrate and the butanolic extract against nine target-fungi as well as for its antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABST tests. The obtained results demonstrate that Streptomyces species isolated from the rhizosphere of Artemisia herba-alba Asso have the potential for different biological activities including antifungal and antioxidant activities particularly for strain BKS30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Morocco, the endemic Artemisia herba-alba is well known by its traditional uses and health benefits. The search for natural, safe, and effective antibacterial and antifungal agents from plants is in high demand due to microbial and fungal resistance to conventional synthetic antibiotics and antifungal drugs. In this study, the A. herba-alba was collected from the region of Fez-Boulemane during the periods of March, June, and September. Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from the aerial part of the plant by the hydrodistillation method. The chemical constituents were determined using GC-MS as analytical tools. The antimicrobial activities of different oils were tested using the macrodilution method. The results showed the difference in the yields between the three EOs (0.49, 1.74, 1.30% (mL/100 g)), respectively, as well as in their corresponding chemical compositions. The main constituents revealed by GC-MS are higher contents of oxygenated monoterpenes (84.7, 84.4, 81%), such as cis chrysanthenyl acetate (30, 26.7, 27.6%), β-thujone (23.2, 12.9, 15.4%), camphor (9.76, 14.3, 15.8%), chrysanthenone (2.4, 1, 14%), 1,8-cineole (1.5, 11.7, 11.8%), trans β-dihydroterpineol (7.8, 7.2, 6.9%), α-thujone (4.8, 3, 5.4%), and sesquiterpenic davanone (3.9, 1.5, 1.4%), respectively. The three EOs biological activities’ results showed significant antimicrobial effects against four bacteria tested (E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus, M. luteus), with the MIC values ranging from 0.1 to 0.03% (v/v), as well as interesting antifungal effects on both wood rot fungi against four fungi examined (G. trabeum, P. placenta, C. puteana, C. versicolor) and molds against three microorganisms tested (A. niger, P. digitatum, P. expansum), with MIC values ranging from 0.2 to 0.03% (v/v) and 0.4 to 0.03% (v/v), respectively. The June and September EO samples showed more potent activities than those collected during March. Our research findings showed quantitative variability in both EO contents and chemical compositions, which could be due to the phenological stages, climatic conditions of growth, and harvesting periods. The potent results of the antimicrobial/antifungal activities were provided by the EOs of June and September and might be correlated to the contribution and synergism effect of all oxygenated monoterpenes. These results support the possible application of A. herba-alba EOs as natural and safe antibacterial agents, and an effective alternative to synthetic drugs, enabling the prevention and treatment of certain pathogenic infections in food and health, and the preservation of wood alteration against fungi.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba obtained by hydrodistillation was determined by chromatographic analysis (GC and GC-MS). Seventy-nine components were identified, which accounted for 93.3% of the total essential oil. The major components were chrysanthenone (24.1 %), camphor (16,2%), a-thujone (12.8 %) and 1,8-cineole (9.3%). The investigated volatile extract showed potency antimicrobial activity, against all the studied bacterial strains (MIC values not exceeding 2 µg/mL). Also, this oil showed substantial antifungal activity MIC less than 0.5µg/mL for Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium expansum. Compared to BHA and BHT which were acted as positive controls, the essential oil was the less active to inhibit the free radical DPPH insofar it failed to reach a scavenging capability of 50%. The oil was also tested for its corrosion inhibitor of pure aluminum in HCl (1 mol./L) using electrochemical techniques (potentiodynamic polarization, open circuit potential, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and gravimetric measurements. The results reveal that the inhibition effectiveness was dose-dependent of the oil concentration (maximum corrosion inhibition = 94.3% for an optimal concentration of 0.8 g / L). These findings suggest that this essential oil may be a new green inhibitor agent against corrosion in hydrogen chloride solution media and could be used on food systems as an effective inhibitor of foodborne pathogens as well as for pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinobacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of plants are of interest as they produce a diverse range of molecules, such as antibiotics and enzymes. This study investigates the antibacterial activity, plant growth-promoting (PGP) abilities as well as the production of extracellular enzymes by the actinobacterial strain BTS40. This strain was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of the medicinal plant Artemisia herba-alba Asso that was naturally grown in a semi-arid environment. Morphological characteristics showed that the strain BTS40 belongs to the genus Streptomyces. Analysis of BTS40's 16S rRNA gene sequence showed 99.45% similarity to Streptomyces alboniger NRRL B-1832T, in the EzTaxon database. This actinobacterium showed only antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The strain also showed potential multiple traits for plant growth promotion and hydrolysis of enzymes. Hence, this study reveals that strain BTS40 has multiple PGP traits and produces many extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructose consumption is associated with the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in human and animal models. This study investigates the ability of an aqueous extract of Artemisia herba-alba Asso (AH) to ameliorate fructose-induced MetS in Male Wistar rats. AH extract at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w./day was administered for six weeks to MetS animals. Liquid fructose (10% w/v) intake did not vary total animal body weight, whereas, it produced moderate hyperglycemia associated with metabolic and histological alterations. Treating MetS rats with AH extract improved insulin sensitivity, alleviated atherogenic dyslipidaemia and decreased lipid deposition in their hepatic tissues. Additionally, AH extract was found to raise GSH level and antioxidant enzymes (GPx, GST and CAT) activities in rat livers homogenates. The results here reported demonstrated, for the first time, that A. herba-alba have therapeutic proprieties against fructose-induced MetS in rodent model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Regular consumption of Artemisia herba-alba is advisable and beneficial for preventing inflammation-related diseases. • Extracts of Artemisia herba-alba have a great potential for medical and local applications, i.e. against skin sunburns. • The development of industrial usage of Artemisia herba-alba is an economical alternative for farmers in semi-desert regions, i.e. Algerian lands. Artemisia herba-alba (AHA) is a medicinal plant known for its preventive capacities against chronic diseases. Inflammation is a naturally occurring cellular response to noxious stimuli, and both acute and chronic inflammation are involved in human disorders. Preventing and limiting the negative impact of inflammation by using phytocompounds has attracted a lot of attention. Here, we show that AHA extracts are potent anti-inflammatory products at low doses in white blood cells, treated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a pro-inflammatory trigger. Regardless of the mode of extraction, i.e. maceration or microwave, all extracts reduced on dose-dependent manner reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by the pro-inflammatory compound PMA in white blood cells and leukemic Jurkat cell line. The induction of the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by the measurement of glutathione metabolism (glutathione reductase, transferase, and peroxidase), and protein-free thiols in Jurkat cells. Jurkat cells incubated with low to high concentrated AHA extracts, ranged from 10 to 100 g/mL, induced a fast cell response measured at one and six hours. Interestingly, extracts from the microwave showed a stronger induction, 5 to 10 fold changes at early time points, and maintained over 72 h. On the other hand, AHA extracts showed a moderate anti-proliferative effect in the leukemic Jurkat line. We concluded that AHA extracts enhance directly anti-inflammatory cell response, earlier via ROS induction. Later, however, vigorously maintained, independently from ROS, suggesting the intervention of the cellular metabolism in enhancing these effects. Considering the preventive and anti-inflammatory potential of AHA, regular consumption is advisable, and phytotherapeutic applications are encouraged to treat local inflammations. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Haemonchosis is a serious disease affecting ruminants' productivity worldwide. Medicinal plants are deemed one of the most natural bio-products safely used as alternatives to the synthetic anthelmintics. In the present study, comparative efficacy of crude ethanolic extracts (CEEs) of Artemisia herba-alba (A. herba-alba), Balanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) and Allium sativum (A. sativum) as alternative treatments was tested on Haemonchus contortus (H. contortus). An in vitro test to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of various concentrations of extracts at 25, 30 and 50 mg/ml was accomplished on motility and viability of adult worms in comparison with albendazole, reference drug at 10 μg/ml at various time intervals. An in vivo test was carried out in lambs experimentally infected with H. contortus to detect anthelmintic activity of CEEs of A. herba-alba and B. aegyptiaca compared to albendazole. Fifteen parasite-free Baladi Egyptian lambs aged 4–8 months old were categorized into five groups, each of three lambs as follows: G1 was kept as uninfected untreated one, G2 was utilized as infected untreated group, G3 was given CEE of A. herba-alba, G4 was received CEE of B. aegyptiaca, and G 5 was treated with albendazole. Results: The in vitro test revealed that CEE of B. aegyptiaca had the most significant anthelmintic activity on adult H. contortus followed by A. herba-alba, while A. sativum was of the lowest effect. The in vivo test showed that the CEE of B. aegyptiaca achieved an excellent faecal egg reduction (100%) at the 7th day post-treatment. The most efficient treatments that improved the haematological parameters and regained the level of serum total protein, albumin and A/G ratio, serum globulin, SGoT, SGPT, urea and creatinine to the almost normal levels were CEE of B. aegyptiaca, albendazole and CEE of A. herba-alba, respectively. Conclusions: This study highlighted the marked anthelmintic potency of the CEEs of B. aegyptiaca and A. herba-alba on H. contortus and the superiority of CEE of B. aegyptiaca as a talented anti-parasitic medicinal plant for sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artemisia herba-alba (AHA) is largely used in folk medicine in different countries. However, rare studies provided toxicological evaluation regarding their safety on human health. Objective: This study investigated the safety of the standardized aqueous extract of AHA, like used by patients, to evaluate their toxicity in vivo and in vitro. Materials and Methods: For toxicological evaluation in vivo we used acute (during 14 days) and sub-acute oral gavages in Wistar rats (rats treated daily for 42 days at 1-5 g/kg bw) and the 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay was performed to determine the level of cell viability and the degree of cytotoxicity in vitro (0-30 µg/ml) on cultured spleen cells. Results: The LD50 was up to 2 g/kg. Signs of mortality and toxicity were observed after single doses and no-observed-adverse-effect levels in the sub acute toxicity was up to 2 g/kg bw. Compared to the control, the treatment did not produce any statistically significant changes on alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase serum titer. However, for creatinine and urea serum value, a significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed. The histological observations of liver and spleen tissues have shown well-preserved normal cells. Indeed for kidney tissues some artifacts of retraction and vascular congestion were noted for 3-5 g/kg doses after sub-chronic treatment. The addition of plant extracts to the spleen cells did not show any sign of toxicity for all doses tested. Conclusion: We conclude that AHA aqueous extract at the dosage up to 2g/kg bw will be toxic and can affect mainly the kidney tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia herba-alba is a medicinal plant, and its essential oil is used as an antiseptic and antispasmodic. In this study, green synthesis of silver/silver oxide (Ag/Ag2O) nanoparticles was successfully synthesized from Artemisia Herba-Alba aqueous leaves extract. The effect of temperature, reaction time, the concentration of AgNO3, the quantity of plant extract, and pH on the synthesis process of Ag/Ag2O was optimized. More interesting, the results showed that only 5 min were required for reducing 1 mM AgNO3 into Ag/Ag2O NPs at room temperature. The crystalline nature of Ag/Ag2O NPs with an average crystallize size of 10.7-36.8 nm. The green synthesizing Ag/Ag2O NPs having in general a spherical morphology with particle/aggregate size less than 100 nm. The maximum UV-Vis absorption peak of Ag/Ag2O NPs was observed at the range of 418-435 nm giving optical band gaps of 2.05-2.30 eV. The TGA/DTA analysis shows significant organic contents (18 wt%) were physically and chemically adsorbed on the dry weight Ag/Ag2O NPs. Artemisia herba-alba is a source of phytochemicals for effective and prompt fabrication of Ag/Ag2O NPs with relevant insecticidal and anti-bactericidal activity against species of high public health importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia herba-alba is widely used in traditional medicines for the treatment of several diseases. From the aerial parts organic extract of A. herba-alba, two new compounds, 1,3,8-trihydroxyeudesm-4-en-7α,11βH-12,6α-olide (1) and 5-β-​D-​glucopyranosyloxy​-​7-methoxy-​6H-​benzopyran-​2-​one (2), respectively, together with five known metabolites: 3α,8β-dihydroxygermacr-4(15),9(10)-dien-7β,11αH,12,6α-olide (3), 1β,8α-dihydroxy-11α,13-dihydrobalchanin (4), 11-epiartapshin (5), tomenin (6) and benzoic acid, p-​(β-​D-​glucopyranosyloxy)​-​methyl ester (7), were isolated and identified. The chemical structures were proven depending upon spectroscopic analysis, including 1 D/2D NMR as and ESI-MS. Compound 1 inhibited Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to highlight the dietary risk of the prevalence of blaESBL producing multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in raw milk, besides evaluating the effect of Artemesia herba-alba and Thymus algeriensis essential oils against blaESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates from raw milk. Isolation and molecular identification of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae and blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M genes encoding resistance were investigated by PCR and sequencing. The chemical composition of oils was effectuated by GC/MS. Antibacterial activity was tested by disc diffusion and microdilution methods. Six ceftazidime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae were identified; four of them were confirmed as ESBL producers and were found to be multi-drug resistant. blaSHV and blaTEM were found to be having the most dominant gene encoding resistance. The results of GC/MS analysis bestowed 31 and 35 compounds for A. herba-alba and T. algeriensis respectively. Klebsiella pneumonia SB6 (17.04 mm for A. herba-alba and 16.22 mm for T. algeriensis) revealed the highest zones of inhibition. MIC values were 1.56-12.5 mg/mL for both essential oils, while the MBC values were 6.25-25 mg/mL (A. herba-alba) and 12.5-25 mg/mL (T. algeriensis). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several medicinal plants are known to possess anticoagulant activity. This study proposed to evaluate the in vitro anticoagulant effect of methanol extracts of Citrullus colocynthis (fruits), Achillea fragrantissima (aerial parts) and Artemisia herba-alba (aerial parts) on normal human plasma. A total of 100 blood samples used in this study were taken from healthy volunteers at the Hematology laboratory of King Khalid Hospital, Al-Majmaah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from November 2018 to March 2019, using 3.2% sodium citrate tubes with a collection ratio of 9:1 blood to anticoagulant. PT, INR and PTT were used to assess the anticoagulant activity of these plants. The highest PT results were observed for 1000 μg/mL methanol extract of C. colocynthis (33.7±3.4 s) followed by 1000 μg/mL methanol extract of A. fragrantissima (28.2±2.6 s) and 1000 μg/mL methanol extract of A. herba-alba (26.4±0.2 s). Moreover, the highest PTT values were observed for 250, 500 and 1000 μg/mL A. fragrantissima (87.9±1.0, 97.9±5.1 and 112.5±1.1 s, respectively), 500 μg/mL and 1000 μg/mL C. colocynthis (65.1±1.0 and 106.4±0.4 s, respectively) and 1000 μg/mL A. herba-alba (157.0±3.0 s). The anticoagulant effect of methanol extracts of A. herba-alba, A. fragrantissima, and C. colocynthis were evaluated using coagulation assays, in which prolonged clotting time of their methanol extracts was observed. These findings potentially justify the use of these plants in managing arterial and venous thrombotic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of harvest at different times on the chemical composition of phenolic compounds of Artemisia herba-alba. Plant material has been harvested at three times (July, November, and May). Methanolic plant extracts were obtained by means of ultrasound-assisted extraction and then analyzed by HPLC–electrospray ionization–Q-TOF–MS for their phenolic profile. The HPLC allowed the identification of 26 phenolic compounds, 12 of them were identified for the first time for this material. The phenolic compounds detected were 8 phenolic acids, 12 flavones, 4 isoflavone, 1 flavonol, and 1 flavanone. Results showed that during the all harvesting date, phenolic acids were predominant. In November, at the flowering period, it revealed the highest accumulation of total phenolic contents (515 ± 142 mg GAE/g dry matter weight [DMW]) in the methanolic extracts. November at the flowering period was characterized by the highest levels of flavonoids 8.3 mg/g DMW and the lowest contents of phenolic acids 3 mg/g DMW.

Aim: This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of Artemisia herba-alba (white wormwood) or olive leaf (Olea europaea) powder supplementation on growth performance, carcass yield, and serum biochemical parameters in broilers. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from April to May 2017 in Chemini region, Northern Algeria. A total of 60 1-day-old Ross 308 male chicks were divided into three groups consisted of 10 chicks, in each of two replications. The chicks in Group 1 were fed with a standard commercial diet (SCD); Group 2 received the same SCD with 2% supplementation of A. herba-alba powder; and Group 3 received the same SCD with 2% supplementation of O. europaea powder. Growth performance was measured with body weights every 2 weeks, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and carcass yield at the end of 42 days of rearing. Blood samples were collected to analyze serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, and total protein levels. Results: Results showed that, at 42 days of rearing, supplementation of O. europaea and A. herba-alba significantly increased (p

The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition and to evaluate the genotoxic and antigentoxic activites of the Moroccan Artemisia herba-alba ethanolic extract. The ethanolic extract of Artemisia herba-alba was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The mutagenic and antimutagenic activities were evaluated using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) on Drosophila melanogaster. Methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) was used as the positive control.Twenty-one compounds of the Artemisia herba-alba ethanol extract were identified; the main monoterpenes identified are camphor, α-thujone and β-thujone. Ethanolic extract of Artemisia herba-alba did not show gentotoxicity at doses used in SMART Assays. In the co-treatment, a dose-dependent decrease in mutation frequency was observed for this plant. Ethanolic extract of Artemisia herba-alba at 1.5% demonstrated a marked decrease in MMS with a strong inhibitory effect (80%). The results demonstrate that the Artemisia herba-alba exerted a significant and potent anti-mutagenic activity in wing and eye-spot of D. melanogaster.

The concentrations of selected heavy metals including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe) in stems and leaves of Artemisia herba-alba medicinal plant and soil samples were evaluated. Results showed that there in heavy metal concentrations of washed and unwashed parts of A. herba-alba from northern site (Irbid), Middle site (Al-Mafraq), and Souhern site (Ma'an) (P <.05). Moreover, the results of this study revealed that there is a correlation between heavy metal levels in medicinal plants and their concentrations in soil. Two standard reference materials of plant (SRM 1790a; spinach, CRM 281; ryegrass) and a standard reference material of soil (GBW 07406) were examined to validate the method used. There were good agreements between the measured values of these standard reference materials and their certified values. In addition to that high recoveries for tested elements were ranged between 91.7–97.7%, 90–96.6%, and 92.2–97.7% in (CRM281, ryegrass), (SRM1570a, spinach) and (GBW 04706, soil) respectively. It is reasonable to conclude that the variation in metal concentration from site to another site as well as from element to another element may be due to the different factors such as traffic volumes, the wind directions, the soil nature, and the element behavior. Based on the results obtained, the health authorities will take in consideration these useful information and direct the residents about the risk of these pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this roadmap is to evaluate the possible efficacy of Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae) for the treatment of COVID-19 and some of its symptoms and several comorbidities using a combination of in silico (molecular docking) studies, reported ethnic uses, and pharmacological activity studies of this plant. In this exploratory study, we show that various phytochemicals from Artemisia herba-alba can be useful against COVID-19 (in silico studies) and for its associated comorbidities. COVID-19 is a new disease, so reports of any therapeutic treatments against it (traditional or conventional) are scanty. On the other hand, we demonstrate, using Artemisia herba-alba as an example, that through a proper search and identification of medicinal plant(s) and their phytochemicals identification using secondary data (published reports) on the plant’s ethnic uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities against COVID-19 comorbidities and symptoms coupled with the use of primary data obtained from in silico (molecular docking and molecular dynamics) studies on the binding of the selected plant’s phytochemicals (such as: rutin, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and schaftoside) with various vital components of SARS-CoV-2, it may be possible to rapidly identify plants that are suitable for further research regarding therapeutic use against COVID-19 and its associated symptoms and comorbidities.

Background: Plants are harmed by parasitic organisms, and toxic poisons are created. Phytopathogenic fungi create toxins that can severely harm plants' basic physiological functioning., Objective: Investigation of antifungal impact of various fractions of methanol extract of Artemisia herba-alba to Aspergillus niger as a plant pathogen., Methods: Artemisia herba-alba extract was purified using column chromatography, giving various antifungal fractions tested versus A. niger ., Results: The 6 th fraction give the highest inhibition zone with a diameter of 5.4 cm and MIC 125.02 ± 4.9 μg/ml, which was identified using Mass spectroscopy, 1 HNMR, Elemental analysis as well as IR testing, revealing the chemical formula of the purified fraction. Ultrastructure alteration of treated A. niger was examined versus control using the transmission electron microscope. Purified fraction has tested versus normal cell line with minimal cytotoxicity., Conclusion: These results revealed the possibility of using Artemisia herba-alba methanol extract as a promising antifungal versus phytopathogenic fungi, especially A. niger after more verification of results., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background and Aim: Peripheral nerve injury occurs in about 3% of the patients suffering from trauma and accidents. This injury induces Wallerian degeneration in the site of injury and, as a retrograde reaction, extends to the cell bodies of injured neurons in the central nervous system. The present study aimed to assess the neuro-protective effects of the alcoholic extract of Artemisia herba-alba on the degeneration of spinal cord ventral horn alpha motoneurons following sciatic nerve compression in rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 5 six-member groups including control (A), compressed (C), and three compressed groups plus treatment with Artemisia herba-alba ethanolic extract with a dose of 50 (D50), 75 (D75), and 100 (D100) mg/kg. The alcoholic extract of Artemisia herba-alba was injected intraperitoneally once a week for four weeks. In the control group, the muscle was dissected at the sciatic nerve; in the compression and treatment groups, the sciatic nerve was exposed to compression after muscle contraction. At the end, the mice were anesthetized and subjected to perfusion. They were then sampled from the lumbar spinal cord. After staining the histological sections with toluidine blue, the neuron density was studied. Results: Neuronal density in the compression group had a significant reduction compared with the control group (P

The study of bioactive molecules of natural origin is a focus of current research. Thymus algeriensis and Artemisia herba-alba are two medicinal plants widely used by the Moroccan population in the traditional treatment of several pathologies linked to inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the single and combined antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the essential oils extracted from these two medicinal plants, and also their potential toxicity. Essential oils were extracted using hydro-distillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by two methods: the scavenging of the free radical DPPH, and the reduction in iron. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by evaluating the edema development induced by carrageenan injecting, while the analgesic power was evaluated according to the number of abdominal contortions induced by the intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid (0.7%). The acute oral toxicity was performed to assess the potential toxicity of the studied EOs, followed by an analysis of the blood biochemical parameters. The results of the two antioxidant tests indicated that our extract mixture exhibits good iron reduction capacity and very interesting DPPH free radical scavenging power, with an IC50 of around 4.38 ± 0.98 μg/mL higher than that of the benchmark antioxidant, BHT. The anti-inflammatory test demonstrated that the mixture administered orally at a dose of 150 mg/kg has a better activity, exceeding that of 1% Diclofenac, with a percentage of maximum inhibition of the edema of 89.99 ± 4.08. The number of cramps in the mice treated with the mixture at a dose of 150 mg/kg is significantly lower (29.80 ± 1.92) than those of the group treated with Tramadol (42.00 ± 2.70), respectively. The toxicity results show no signs of toxicity with an LD50 greater than 150 mg/Kg. These interesting results show that the two plants’ EOs had an important anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant activity, and also a powerful synergistic effect, which encourages further in-depth investigations on their pharmacological proprieties.

Artemisia herba-alba (Aha) is an aromatic and medicinal plant rich in health-promoting flavonoids compounds that play an important role as antioxidant. For better utilization of this resource, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of flavonoids and antiradical activities of obtained extracts from Aha using response surface methodology was assessed. A four-factor five-level central composite rotatable design was employed to discuss these extracting parameters: ethanol concentration (X1), temperature (X2), extraction time (X3) and solvent to sample ratio (X4). The optimum extraction conditions for simultaneous maximization of total flavonoids (TF) and scavenging activity were solvent concentration of 50%, temperature of 55 °C, extraction time of 50 min and solvent to sample ratio of 90 mL/g. Under these conditions, the experimental yield of TF and DPPH-radical scavenging activity IC50% were respectively 102.49 mg CE/g DM and 7 µg/mL. Additionally, good and moderate linear correlation was observed between antiradical activity and TF content (R2 = 0.709) which indicated that these compounds are responsible for antioxidant activity of Aha. When compared to the most conventional extraction, antioxidant activity and amounts of major flavonoids are enhanced when using UAE with reduced extraction time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia mainly because of the absolute or relative deficiency of insulin hormone. The dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors represent a class of glucose-lowering agents potentiating the action of the incretin hormones glucagon-likepeptide-1 and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, which are secreted from the intestinal endocrine cells in response to food ingestion to stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Natural products have been traditionally used for curing many diseases. In this study, in-vitro biological evaluation of the isolated compounds calotoxin, calotropin, pectolinarigenin, apigenin7-O-(3",6"-di-O-E-p-coumaroyl)-β-glycoside and extracts of Calotropis procera, Ephedra foeminea, Artemisia herba-alba, Hylocereus undatus and Marrubium vulgare showed potential inhibitory activity, where the butanol extract of Calotropis procera was found to have 85.3% inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV at 0.2 mg/100 µL concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artemisia herba-alba (AHA) is largely used in folk medicine in different countries. However, rare studies provided toxicological evaluation regarding their safety on human health. Objective: This study investigated the safety of the standardized aqueous extract of AHA, like used by patients, to evaluate their toxicity in vivo and in vitro. Materials and Methods: For toxicological evaluation in vivo we used acute (during 14 days) and sub-acute oral gavages in Wistar rats (rats treated daily for 42 days at 1-5 g/kg bw) and the 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay was performed to determine the level of cell viability and the degree of cytotoxicity in vitro (0-30 µg/ml) on cultured spleen cells. Results: The LD50 was up to 2 g/kg. Signs of mortality and toxicity were observed after single doses and no-observed-adverse-effect levels in the sub acute toxicity was up to 2 g/kg bw. Compared to the control, the treatment did not produce any statistically significant changes on alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase serum titer. However, for creatinine and urea serum value, a significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed. The histological observations of liver and spleen tissues have shown well-preserved normal cells. Indeed for kidney tissues some artifacts of retraction and vascular congestion were noted for 3-5 g/kg doses after sub-chronic treatment. The addition of plant extracts to the spleen cells did not show any sign of toxicity for all doses tested. Conclusion: We conclude that AHA aqueous extract at the dosage up to 2g/kg bw will be toxic and can affect mainly the kidney tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]