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This study aimed to provide new data on the chemical composition and biological properties of Corrigiola. telephiifolia Pourr., demonstrating the influence of different extraction solvents and geographic locations on these properties. It presents novel findings on the phytochemical contents, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial effects of various fractions of Corrigiola telephiifolia Pourr. roots collected from three distinct regions in Morocco. The obtained results reveal significant variations in TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity depending on the extraction fraction and geographic origin. Notably, the fraction of raw extract exhibited the highest TPC values in all sampled sites (44.76 ± 0.05 in Agouray, 35.89±0.02 in Sefrou, and 14.99 ± 0.03 mg·GAE/g·dw in Azrou). The peak values of TFC were recorded in the fraction of raw extracts for all sampling sites (20.80 ± 0.01 in Agouray, 18.62 ± 0.01 in Sefrou, and 11.54 ± 0.01 mg QAE/g dw in Azrou). The highest values of FRAP were recorded in the fraction of raw extract of Agouray (2.00±0.00). Furthermore, the hexane fraction showed the highest DPPH and Chelating power with IC50 equal to 0.46 ± 0.02 mg·mL-1 and 0.10 ± 0.00 mg·mL-1, respectively. All fractions showed significant and variable antibacterial activities. The highest antimicrobial activity was recorded in in ethyl acetate fraction of the sample from Agouray against E. coli (MIC = 0.039). The highest anti-microbial effect was recorded also in ethyl acetate fraction against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and raw fraction against B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa (MBC = 0.313 against both microorganisms). Agouray consistently demonstrated superior results across multiple parameters, indicating it as the best region for the highest phytochemical and bioactive properties. This study evaluated the chemical compounds and biological properties of Corrigiola. telephiifolia Pourr. and demonstrated the effect of the sampled area and solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

The purpose of the current study is to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected eating behavior and directed toward organic food and bioproducts consumption in the North African region especially Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia as well as identify the variables that may affect the eating behavior of these population. Data were collected using an anonymous online survey on 1,244 respondents from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The results showed that the confinement did influence the consumption of healthy food to enhance people’s immune system so as to prevent infection by the COVID-19, and other diseases. Moreover, academic level, gender, and country of residence were diversely correlated with the eating behavior during COVID-19 confinement. The understanding of people’s eating behavior will help the public health to reshape future policies toward organic and bio-based food production; moreover, some further nutritional recommendations could be concluded to maintain a global better health status and improve body defence mechanism.

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]

Fungal infections are a serious health concern that poses a danger to global healthcare systems. The innate resistance of fungi to chemical agents has made researchers investigate natural sources with bioactive contents against a wide spectrum of pathogenic microbes. The present study aimed to explore the variability of the mineral profile, as well as the antifungal effect of different extracts of Ajuga iva L. collected from different geographical locations in Morocco. Different extracts (aqueous, ethanol, and methanol) were prepared from Ajuga iva samples using the maceration technique. The mineral profile of the extracts was determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Eight pathogenic fungi were used to determine the antifungal effect of different extracts of Ajuga iva using agar disc diffusion method. The results showed high variability in the mineral profile according to geographical origin with the abundance of Na (between 160.52 and 192.40 mg/L), K (between 10.52 and 41.41 mg/mL), Ca (between 32.07 and 58.76 mg/L), Mg (between 4.16 and 8.42 mg/L), and P (between 1.69 and 10.54 mg/L). All the test extracts exhibited considerable antifungal effects against all fungi except Cryptococcus. The findings of the present study confirmed that Ajuga iva is a valuable source of essential minerals and is effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roasting is a dry heat processing technique used to develop sensory properties of food which has caught the interest of customers. Roasted seeds of sesame is one of the most recommended oilseeds in the world thanks to its sensorial, medicinal and nutritional benefits. However, the choice of effective roasting conditions is important for the sensorial parameters and for the biological potentials of sesame seeds, as well. In this study, the impact of oven temperature and roasting time on sesame quality was investigated. A total of 16 different roasting conditions were used. Sesame seeds were roasted at the following temperatures: 130°C, 140°C, 150°C and 160°C. During this process, samples were taken and analyzed at different time intervals (40 min, 60 min, 90 min, and 120 min). Both the roasting temperature and time significantly (P<0.05) affected the quality characteristics of sesame seeds. The amounts of oil yield, total proteins, total sugars, total phenolic and flavonoids content, total antioxidant activity and DPPH radical scavenging were increased by increasing the treatment. Roasting sesame seeds at 140°C/40min, gave a significantly higher content of oil yield (52.2%), proteins (20.95%), sugars (29.62%), flavonoids content (0.12 mg/g) and total phenolic content (1.2 mg/g) in comparison to the other roasting conditions. However, beyond this treatment, these contents decreased significantly. Based on these results, time and temperature are undoubtedly important factors to consider in the roasting process of sesame. [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]