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Pyrolysis of plant through the rotative oven is a promising and more eco-friendly way to produce charcoal, tar and pyroligneous acid, and other gaseous products with useful purposes. In this research using the Tar of 2 of the most common species in Tunisia Pinus halepensis and Acacia cyanophylla we tried to prove their Insecticidal and fungal activities. For that we started by assessing the Tars' secondary metabolites. Both tars presented important rates but P. halepensis tar presented higher levels of secondary metabolites especially flavonoids with 1.92 mg/ml QE comparing to 1.47 mg/ml QE for A. cyanophylla tar. The antioxidant activity and antioxidant capacity of the 2 tars revealed more pronounced antioxidant activity of P. halepensis tar with 89.5% (%DPPH) and 2.91 mg/ml AAE compared to 75.70% (%DPPH) and 2.72 mg/ml AAE for A. cyanophylla tar. The insecticidal activity against Aphis spiraecola showed faster and stronger efficiency of A. cyanophylla tar extract 25% inducing 73.3% mortality within 2 Hours of exposure and reached 100% mortality after 10H. P. halepensis tar extract 75% showed slower response with 73.3% mortality after 6H of exposure. The results of the antifungal activity of P. halepensis tar extract 10% and A. cyanophylla tar extract 0.75% revealed that P. halepensis tar was more inhibiting of the mycelium growth of many fungi including F.solani, F.nyagami and M.nivale with an inhibition rate of 77% but less effective on other like F.rodelens that reached 77% mycelium growth. On the other hand, cyanophylla tar extract 0.75% was less effective with only 30% inhibition rate of Phoma sp. the other fungi had more than 79% mycelium growth., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study was designed to evaluate the underlying protective mechanisms of oleuropein involved in alleviating brain damage in a rat model of ischemic stroke. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups; Control, stroke (MCAO), MCAO + clopidogrel (Clop) and MCAO + oleuropein (Ole). Results showed that the MCAO group evidenced significant brain edema (+ 9%) as well as increases of plasma cardiac markers such as lactate deshydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK-MB), fibrinogen and Trop-T by 11 %, 43%, 168 and 590%, respectively, as compared to the control group. Moreover, infarcted rats exhibited remarkable elevated levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), both in plasma and brain tissue, with astrocyte swelling and necrotic neurons in the infarct zone, hyponatremia, and increased rate of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) by 89% associated with decreases in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (Cat) by 51%, 44 and 42%, respectively, compared to normal control rats. However, MCAO rats treated with oleuropein underwent mitigation of cerebral edema, correction of hyponatremia, remarkable decrease of plasma fibrinogen and cardiac dysfunctional enzymes, inhibition of ACE activity and improvement of oxidative stress status in brain tissue. Furthermore, in silico analysis showed considerable inhibitions of ACE, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and TGF-β1, an indicative of potent anti-embolic properties. Overall, oleuropein offers a neuroprotective effect against ischemic stroke through its antioxidative and antithrombotic activities.

This study aimed to evaluate the antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cardiac remodeling properties of eugenol in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, control, iso [100 mg/kg body weight was injected subcutaneously into rats at an interval of 24 h for 2 days (6th and 7th day) to induce MI] and pretreated animals with clopidogrel (0.2 mg/kg) and eugenol (50 mg/kg) orally for 7 days and intoxicated with isoproterenol (Iso + Clop) and (Iso + EG) groups. Isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats showed notable changes in the ECG pattern, increase in heart weight index, deterioration in the hemodynamic function and rise in plasma level of troponin-T, CK-MB and LDH and ALT by 316, 74, 172 and 45 %, respectively, with histological myocardium necrosis and cells inflammatory infiltration. In addition, significant increases in plasma levels of inflammatory biomarkers such as fibrinogen, α1, α2, β1, β2 and γ globulins with decrease level of albumin were observed in infarcted rats as compared to normal ones. Else, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in plasma, kidney and heart of the isoproterenol-induced rats was significantly increased by 34, 47 and 93 %, respectively, as compared to normal group. However, the administration of eugenol induced a clear improvement in cardiac biomarkers injury, reduced inflammatory mediators proteins, increased heart activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase with reduce in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances content and inhibition of ventricular remodeling process through inhibition of ACE activity. Overall, eugenol evidences high preventive effects from cardiac remodeling process.

The present study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effect of hydroxytyrosol (HT) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Male rats were randomly divided into four groups, control, isoproterenol (Isop) and pretreated animals with HT in two different doses (2 and 5 mg/kg) orally for 7 days and intoxicated with isoproterenol (Isop + HT1) and (Isop + HT2) groups. Myocardial infarction in rats was induced subcutaneously by isoproterenol (100 mg/kg, s.c.) at an interval of 24 h on 6th and 7th day. On 8th day, electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern, gravimetric and biochemical parameters were assessed. Isoproterenol exhibited changes in ECG pattern, including significant ST-segment elevation and increase in the serum troponin-T level by 317 % as compared to control rats. Moreover, cardiac injury markers (creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase) underwent a notable rise in serum of infarcted animals. Else, a disturbance in lipids profile and significant increase in lipase and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activities and heart weight ratio were observed in isoproterenol group. However, pre- and co-treatment with HT (2 and 5 mg/kg) improved the myocardium injury, restored the hemodynamic function and inhibited the ACE activity that prevent cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. Overall, these findings demonstrated that HT exerted a potent cardioprotective effect against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of Tunisian flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats by studying hypertensive and cardiac damage markers especially electrocardiographic changes and troponin T serum level. In vitro, the extracted oil showed an important inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) with an IC50 = 85.96 μg/ml. According to chemical analysis, this extract is composed essentially of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (58.59 %). Male rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely control (C), isoproterenol (ISO), and isoproterenol-treated group with flaxseed oil (FO + ISO). Isoproterenol injection showed changes in ECG pattern, including ST-segment elevation (diagnostic of myocardial infarction), increase in the serum levels of Troponin T and cardiac injury markers (creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT)). However, Linum oil pre-co-treatment prevented almost all the parameters isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Results of the present study proved that flaxseed oil has a significant effect by heart protection against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction through beneficial effect of the important fraction of ALA.

Objective: Myocardial infarction remains the major cause of global death due to cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to assess the protective role of oleuropein in attenuating the cardiac remodeling in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats., Methods and Results: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, control, isoproterenol (Isop) and pretreated animals with oleuropein at two different doses (20 and 40 mg/kg) orally for 7 days and intoxicated with isoproterenol (Isop+Oleu20) and (Isop+Oleu40) groups. The subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (100 mg/kg body weight) to untreated rats for two consecutive days showed significant increases in ST-segment elevation, heart weight index and alteration in the ECG pattern and hemodynamic function. Else, serum levels of cardiac troponin-T, creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) underwent a notable rise in serum of Isop group by (345, 82, 73 and 106%, respectively) as compared to normal rats. Isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury was evidenced by alteration in serum lipids profile and increased activities of pancreatic lipase by 94% and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) by 78% which reflects the occurrence of cardiac remodeling process. The histopathological findings of the infarcted group showed myocardium necrosis and cells inflammatory infiltration. However, the treatment with oleuropein gave a good protection of the myocardium by decreasing cardiac injury markers specially troponin-T, restoring hemodynamic parameters and attenuating cardiac remodeling process through inhibition of ACE activity., Conclusion: Oleuropein offers high preventive effects from cardiac remodeling process in rats with acute myocardial infarction.

Zygophyllum album has been used as herbal medicine in Southern Tunisia to treat several diseases such as diabetes mellitus. This study is aimed to reveal the mechanisms underlying the antihyperglycemic potential, the anti-inflammatory and the protective hematological proprieties of this plant in diabetic rats. The inhibition of the α-amylase activity by different solvent-extract fractions of Z. album was tested in vitro. The fraction endowed with the powerful inhibitory activity against α-amylase was administered to surviving diabetic rats for 30 days. Data from in vitro indicated that each extract from the medicinal plant showed moderate inhibition of α-amylase enzyme except the ethyl acetate extract which was ineffective. The powerful inhibition was achieved by ethanol extract of Z. album (EZA) with an IC50 of 43.48 μg/ml as compared to acarbose (Acar) with an IC50 of 14.88 μg/ml. In vivo, the results showed that EZA decreased the α-amylase levels in serum, pancreas and intestine of diabetic rats by 40 %, 45 % and 46 %, respectively, associated with considerably reduction in blood glucose rate by 61 %. Moreover, the EZA helped to protect the structure and function of the β-cells. Interestingly, EZA had a potent anti-inflammatory effect which is manifested by decreases in CRP and TNF-α levels. Overall, a notable reduction in lipase activity both in serum and small intestine of treated diabetic rats resulted in the improvement of serum and liver lipids profile. Z. album showed a prominent antidiabetic effect via inhibition of carbohydrate and lipid digestive enzymes and ameliorated the inflammation and the disturbance of hematological biomarkers in diabetes.

The present study investigated the effect of treating diabetic rats with eugenol (EG). In vitro enzyme activity was measured in the presence of eugenol, and it was found to inhibit pancreatic α-amylase (IC(50) = 62.53 µg/mL) and lipase (IC(50) = 72.34 µg/mL) as well as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity (IC50 = 130.67 µg/mL). In vivo, EG reduced the activity of amylase in serum, pancreas and intestine also the peak level of glucose by 60% compared to diabetic rats. Furthermore, eugenol similar to acarbose reduced serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipase and ACE levels. In addition, treatments with EG showed notable decrease in serum total-cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels with an increase of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Overall, EG significantly reverted back to near normal the values of the biochemical biomarkers such as transaminases (AST&ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activities, total-bilirubin, creatinine, urea and uric acid rates.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SS) is a generalized disorder of connective tissue and microvasculature characterized by tissue fibrosis and obliteration of the vessels. Several features of systemic scleroderma in men are discussed in the literature., Aim: To investigate the initial clinical features, evolution and prognosis of systemic sclerosis in men., Methods: Patients with systemic sclerosis based on ACR's criteria were included. In this retrospective study we compared a cohort of men to a cohort of women, diagnosed between 2000 and 2010 in department of internal medicine., Results: Fifty four patients were included amongst which nine men. The mean follow-up duration was 39.5 months. A higher proportion of cardiac, renal and lung involvement were noted at diagnosis Localized cutaneous sclerosis was predominant in men., Conclusion: This work has highlighted several features of systemic sclerosis encountered in men. These results warrant confirmation by analyzing a larger population.

Background: The association cancer and venous thrombosis is almost always an independent criterion of poor prognosis of cancer. Thus, venous thromboembolic disease is with infection and organ failure, one of the leading causes of death in patients with malignant disease., Aim: To identify the characteristics of the association between cancer and venous thrombosis in any patient with deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs seemingly unexplained., Methods: This is a retrospective study from January 1994 to December 2008, concerning 17 cases of patients with deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs associated with neoplasia, hospitalized in internal medicine department at Habib Thameur hospital between a total of 290 patients with deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs. Only patients hospitalized for deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs complicated or not by a pulmonary embolism were included., Results: Our study concerned 17 patients. There were 10 women and 7 men with a sex ratio (Female / Male) at 1, 42. The average age was 68.7 years, with extreme ages ranging from 40 to 90 years. Cancer has formed 6% of the causes of deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs. Eight of our patients were known to suffer from a cancerous disease. Six cases of cancers were discovered at an advanced stage of evolution with multiple metastases. In seven cases the etiological could not be achieved. Deep venous thrombosis was complicated by pulmonary embolism in four inaugural events, five patients had recurrent thrombosis, and two cases of bleeding complications were noted., Conclusion: Venous thromboembolism is common in cancer patients. It can be the first manifestation of cancer completely silent. The course and prognosis depend on the stage of cancer combined.

Obesity is a serious health problem that increased risk for many complications, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The results showed EZA, which found rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds, exhibited an inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase in vitro with IC(50) of 91.07 μg/mL. In vivo administration of this extract to HFD-rats lowered body weight and serum leptin level; and inhibited lipase activity of obese rats by 37% leading to notable decrease of T-Ch, TGs and LDL-c levels accompanied with an increase in HDL-c concentration in serum and liver of EZA treated HFD-rats. Moreover, the findings revealed that EZA helped to protect liver tissue from the appearance of fatty cysts. Interestingly, supplementation of EZA modulated key enzyme related to hypertension such as ACE by 36% in serum of HFD animals and improve some of serum electrolytes such as Na(+), K(+), Cl(-), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). Moreover, EZA significantly protected the liver-kidney function by reverted back near to normal the values of the liver-kidney dysfunction indices AST&ALT, ALP, CPK and GGT activities, decreased T-Bili, creat, urea and uric acid rates. In conclusion, these results showed a strong antihypelipidemic effect of EZA which can delay the occurrence of dislipidemia and hypertension.

Background: Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a rare but potentially fatal disease. The diagnosis is based on the combination of clinical and biological signs, requiring histological or cytological research hemophagocytosis and exhaustive etiological investigation., Aim: To report four cases of the HPS in an internal medicine department., Cases Report: We report four cases of HPS associated with Still's disease in two cases, with Sjogren syndrome in one case and a severe sepsis in one case. There are three women and one man. The mean age was 34.75 years, with extremes of 21 to 50 years. In all cases, patients were hospitalized for fever of unknown origin. The etiologic research of this fever remained negative. In all cases, patients validated criteria of HPS confirmed by cytological studies. The treatment was based on corticosteroids in all cases and immunosuppressant in one case. The evolution was favorable in two cases and fatal in two cases., Conclusion: HPS is a serious, often overlooked, may affect the prognosis and complicating various infectious, neoplastic or autoimmune diseases.