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Silybum marianum L. Gaertn is a spontaneous plant whose medicinal properties have been used for over two thousand years. This study aims to clarify the understanding and utilisation of S. marianum by the rural and urban populations of Ouezzane region in Morocco, in order to assess the level of recognition and exploitation of this plant. An ethnobotanical survey in this region involved a sample of 140 individuals. Survey results are analyzed using SPSS. The survey results have revealed a significantly limited level of appreciation for S. marianum. Through the use of chi-square statistical tests, we identified significant relationships between our variables and the knowledge about S. marianum and its use. Based on the findings of our study, Silybum marianum L. remains one of Morocco's most neglected and underutilized plants. This may be due to a lack of knowledge or adequate information about its applications, a lack of general interest or even socio-economic factors that limit its exploitation.

Ammi visnaga L. Lam. is the most popular therapeutic plant in the Mediterranean region. Umbel is a traditional Moroccan remedy for diabetes, and oral care. The main goal of this study was to determine which extractor solvents had a particular affinity for the total phenolic content (TPC) found in the roots of Ammi visnaga. Using solvents chosen from the first step, the phenolic contents were maximized using the mixture design response surface methodology. The optimal solvent mixes of 10% methanol, 50% water, and 40% ethanol were used to prepare the root extracts. This study was designed to examine the phenolic profile of Moroccan Ammi visnaga L. roots using UHPLC/DAD–MS/MS Assessing the antioxidant capacities with the use of four complimentary tests (TAC, TPC, CUPRAC, and HCA). The obtained results showed the peak of antioxidant activity TAC (10.17±1.4 mg/g AAE) and TPC (15,99±0,4 mg GAE/g)).Various bioactive compounds (21 components) with different concentrations were identified, including isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside (25.8%),and isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside (22.3%), which are the three most abundant individual phenolic compounds. The findings revealed the presence of numerous bioactive substances with important biological capabilities in the roots of A. visnaga L., emphasizing the need for further experimental model validation of the data.

In this report, different extracts from the aerial parts of Ammi visnaga (L.), e.g., flowers, leaves, and stems were prepared using water, methanol, and ethanol. To optimize the extraction process, the design of mixtures was carried out using different extracting solvents and their combinations. The special cubic model explained the variance of the TPC and the antioxidant activity of the extracts at a level of R2 > 95%. In general, the analysis of the model-derived response surfaces revealed that in binary mixtures (50% ethanol + 50% methanol), the yielded values of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity increase with the water proportion of different prepared mixtures. The ability of the quaternary mixture to extract the phenolic compounds was also positively and significantly influenced by the water content, creating a mild polar medium for the extraction of phenolic compounds. The phenolic profile of different extracts under study revealed the presence of a cocktail of active ingredients, including chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, p-coumaric acid, etc. especially the flower extract of A. visnaga (L.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam., (Apiaceae), known as" Bachnikha" or "Khella" in Morocco, is one of the oldest and most important medicinal herbs native to the Mediterranean region of Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Several studies have reported its importance as a diuretic, antiasthmatic, antipsoriasis, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, vasodilator, and smooth muscle relaxant. These promising and valuable pharmacological effects result from a variety of important natural compounds constituting groups in the plant structure, e.g., γ-pyrones, coumarins, chromones, polyphenols, alkaloids, reducing compounds, cardiac glycosides, catechols, sterols, terpenes, quinones, mucilage, essential oil, C-heterosides, and O-heterosides. Within this framework, the current review was prepared for the first time to cover the phytochemical constituents and various pharmacological and therapeutic impacts of A. visnaga (L.) Lam., aiming to enrich Moroccan traditional knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammi visnaga L. (Apiaceae) is a medicinal plant widely distributed in the Mediterranean area. In Morocco, the umbel is traditionally prescribed for mouth care, toothache, and diabetes. This study was designed to examine the affinity of different solvents towards total phenolic compounds (TPC) from the dried umbels of Ammi visnaga. Mixture Design Response Surface Methodology was performed to maximize phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity using the selected solvents from the first step. Plant extracts were prepared using the optimized solvent mixtures. Ternary mixture with 66.67% acetone, 16.67% water, and 16.67% methanol was the most proper mixture to obtain high TPC (29.62 ± 0.60 mg EGA/g dw). Pure methanol was appropriate for TAC followed by binary mixture of 50% water and 50% acetone and ternary mixture with equal proportion of three studied solvents. Special cubic model explained the variance of the total phenolic content, and the antioxidant activity of our extracts at levels of R2 are greater than 95%. In general, the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of our extracts increased with the increasing amount of water in the methanol or acetone solvent mixture. The extraction ability of phenolic compounds was also influenced positively and significantly by the water content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) and watermelon (Citrulus lanatus) rank among the most cultivated cucurbits in Morocco. These crops are prone to infection with a wide range of viral diseases responsible for tremendous losses. Field surveys carried out in 2016 and 2017 in four major cucurbit-growing areas revealed the presence of many virus-like symptoms on these crops, including severe yellowing and chlorosis. Therefore, symptomatic samples were collected and analysed serologically with DAS-ELISA for ZYMV, WMV, PRSV, CABYV and CMV and by The PCR and RT-PCR for ToLCNDV, and CVYV and MNSV, respectively. Results indicated that out of 136 samples, 79% of zucchini and 60% of watermelon samples were serologically positive for ZYMV, CMV, WMV, PRSV and CABYV. CVYV and MNSV were negatively amplified by RT-PCR using specific primer pairs. Interestingly, the PCR test revealed the occurrence of natural infection with ToLCNDV in Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]