Search

Blending biopolymer is a key objective in development of innovative materials and effectively enhances the characteristics of the components to achieve tailored properties. This study introduces five eco-friendly blends in different ratios, created by melt-blending polymers, incorporating Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica gum into plasticized poly (lactic acid) with 16% acetyl tributyl citrate. To perform a comprative analysis of blends ratios, comprehensive techniques were applied, including differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and evaluations of water absorption behavior, chemical resistance, and biodegradability. The 70/30 (plasticized poly (lactic acid)/P. atlantica) blend was mechanically superior, exhibiting the greatest elongation at break and the lowest yield strength and Young's modulus. FTIR analysis showed consistent spectral patterns across the 3000 to 650 cm− 1 range, with numerous absorption bands. DSC analysis identified the highest and lowest glass transition temperatures for the 90/10 and 70/30 blends, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy highlighted the development of more distinct island-sea structures as the proportion of P. atlantica gum increased. Water absorption tests differentiated the 90/10 blend as the most absorbent, while the 70/30 blend absorbed the least. Chemical resistance testing revealed all blends gained weight in HCl, but only the 90/10 blend lost weight in NaOH. All samples were confirmed to be highly biodegradable, surpassing 50% degradation after 6 months. Overall, the findings suggest that blending plasticized poly (lactic acid) and P. atlantica gum enhances the flexibility and performance of poly (lactic acid), warranting further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atlas pistachio tree is a typically Mediterranean species, which represents an important forest heritage in the arid and semi-arid regions of Algeria. It is deeply rooted in the local population's culture, making it essential to better understand this species for its conservation and valorization. Through our work on 7 provenances of Pistacia atlantica distributed across different bioclimates in Algeria and based on 28 quantitative and qualitative leaf, trichome, and stomatal traits, it was revealed that the Atlas pistachio tree exhibits significant ecotypic variability linked to its habitat and a high adaptability to extreme conditions in its environments (aridity and altitude). Indeed, statistical analyses indicate a substantial heterogeneity in the studied characteristics among different ecotypes of P. atlantica. Genetic factors undoubtedly play a primary role in this variability, but environmental factors also exert a remarkable impact on this heterogeneity. Gender also plays a crucial role in this variability. Microphotographs of leaf samples taken under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), such as the density and type of trichomes, and form and position of stomates in the epidermis, can provide an important taxonomic tool for identifying Pistacia species and valuable insights into their adaptation to xeric conditions, thus enabling their use in desertification control projects and the rehabilitation of highly degraded forest environments such as those found in the "Green Dam" initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Blending biopolymer is a key objective in development of innovative materials and effectively enhances the characteristics of the components to achieve tailored properties. This study introduces five eco-friendly blends in different ratios, created by melt-blending polymers, incorporating Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica gum into plasticized poly (lactic acid) with 16% acetyl tributyl citrate. To perform a comprative analysis of blends ratios, comprehensive techniques were applied, including differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and evaluations of water absorption behavior, chemical resistance, and biodegradability. The 70/30 (plasticized poly (lactic acid)/P. atlantica) blend was mechanically superior, exhibiting the greatest elongation at break and the lowest yield strength and Young’s modulus. FTIR analysis showed consistent spectral patterns across the 3000 to 650 cm− 1 range, with numerous absorption bands. DSC analysis identified the highest and lowest glass transition temperatures for the 90/10 and 70/30 blends, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy highlighted the development of more distinct island-sea structures as the proportion of P. atlantica gum increased. Water absorption tests differentiated the 90/10 blend as the most absorbent, while the 70/30 blend absorbed the least. Chemical resistance testing revealed all blends gained weight in HCl, but only the 90/10 blend lost weight in NaOH. All samples were confirmed to be highly biodegradable, surpassing 50% degradation after 6 months. Overall, the findings suggest that blending plasticized poly (lactic acid) and P. atlantica gum enhances the flexibility and performance of poly (lactic acid), warranting further attention.

Background: Leishmaniasis is highly prevalent worldwide, and while conventional medicine offers numerous treatment methods for cutaneous leishmaniasis, Iranian traditional medicine suggests various remedies. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an herbal combination containing Indigofera argentea leaves, Pistacia atlantica resin, and Salvia hispanica seeds in patients with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: This study was conducted at the Leishmaniasis Department of Chabahar Health Center in southeastern Iran in 2021. It was a double-blinded randomized clinical trial involving 68 patients enrolled after clinical diagnosis, examination of smear samples using Giemsa staining, and PCR confirmation. The volunteers were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Both groups received 'Glucantime ® as the primary medication weekly until complete healing or up to 12 weeks. Glucantime ® was administered intralesionally at a dosage of 0.1 cc on the wound's margin, with repeat injections at 1 cm intervals along the wound edge when necessary. In addition to the main drug, the intervention group received the herbal product topically twice daily until wound healing or for up to 4 weeks, while the control group received a placebo in the same manner. Results: 82.35% of patients in the intervention group and 20.58% in the control group achieved complete healing within four weeks. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The herbal product demonstrated effectiveness in treating patients with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leishmaniasis is highly prevalent worldwide, and while conventional medicine offers numerous treatment methods for cutaneous leishmaniasis, Iranian traditional medicine suggests various remedies. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an herbal combination containing Indigofera argentea leaves, Pistacia atlantica resin, and Salvia hispanica seeds in patients with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: This study was conducted at the Leishmaniasis Department of Chabahar Health Center in southeastern Iran in 2021. It was a double-blinded randomized clinical trial involving 68 patients enrolled after clinical diagnosis, examination of smear samples using Giemsa staining, and PCR confirmation. The volunteers were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Both groups received 'Glucantime ® as the primary medication weekly until complete healing or up to 12 weeks. Glucantime ® was administered intralesionally at a dosage of 0.1 cc on the wound's margin, with repeat injections at 1 cm intervals along the wound edge when necessary. In addition to the main drug, the intervention group received the herbal product topically twice daily until wound healing or for up to 4 weeks, while the control group received a placebo in the same manner. Results: 82.35% of patients in the intervention group and 20.58% in the control group achieved complete healing within four weeks. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The herbal product demonstrated effectiveness in treating patients with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

In this study, we prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) employing ultrasound and chitosan (CS) in the presence of Pistacia atlantica aqueous extract as a non-toxic stabilizing and reducing agent for capping AgNPs with CS in a simple single-step process. The reduction of Ag+ ions into Ag0NPs was indicated by a visual transform in color. UV-Vis studies revealed that the characteristic surface plasmon resonance band appeared at around 460 nm. FT-IR, TEM, SEM, EDX, elemental mapping, XRD, and UV/Vis analytical methods were employed to characterize the AgNPs@CS nanocomposite. TEM study revealed nanoflowers-shaped NPs having various particle sizes. In the oncological part of this research, the status of normal and gastric cancer cell lines (MKN45, MKN28, NCI-N87, SNU-16, SNU-5, SNU-1, AGS, and KATO III) against the proposed nanomaterial were determined. The IC50 of AgNPs was 265, 304, 325, 127, 297, 318, 125, and 114 µg/mL against MKN45, MKN28, NCI-N87, SNU-16, SNU-5, SNU-1, AGS, and KATO III, respectively. It seems that the prepared NPs have stopped the growth of gastric cancer cells and the recent cancer cells have been removed with a high concentration of NPs. DPPH test results indicated removing 50% radicals by nanocomposite and butylated hydroxytoluene in the doses of 183 and 45 μg/mL.

In the southwestern part of Algeria, the stands of Atlas pistachio (Pistacia atlantica Desf.) constitute a special natural heritage. They are usually scattered between the steppe plains and the Saharan Atlas. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying the dendrometric characteristics of Atlas pistachio that could be indicators of good productivity. The aim is to investigate the influence of stationary factors (slope, exposure, geology) on the dendrometric characteristics of Pistacia atlantica. The results obtained on the dendrometric parameters of this species are very interesting. From a dendrometric approach, Pistacia atlantica is a large tree that can reach impressive dendrometric dimensions: 8 to 10 meters in height and a diameter often exceeding 100 cm. This dendrometric analysis allowed us to make a structural characterization of stands of Pistacia atlantica, which is an essential step in the management plan and the valuation in the medium or long term. This species of Pistacia atlantica deserves adequate measures of protection, especially in its natural environment. Therefore, a better knowledge of their potentialities, problems, and factors of the decline of this hardy species would contribute to the protection and the preservation to favour their regeneration, which would allow a better extension of this species.

Leishmaniasis is a protozoan zoonosis that causes problems in public health. The use of pentavalent antimony compounds as chemical drugs in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis si associated with various limitations and side effects. Today, plant extracts and their derivations are the promising sources in herbal medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of oil extract Pistacia atlantica Kurdistan province, Iran, on promastigotes of standard strain Leishmania major in vitro and in vivo. n this study, 10, 15, 25, and 50% concentrations of plant-based ointment were added to the lesions caused by promastigotes of Leishmania major. The effectiveness of treatment with different concentrations of pistacia extract on induced lesions at the base of the tail of Balb/c mice cultured with promastigotes of Leishmania major was checked in terms of disease progression or improvement and parasite load. The effect of 50% pistacia extract has the greatest effect on reducing the lesions diameter of Leishmania promastigotes, the results showed that there is a significant difference between the number of Leishmania major promastigotes in different concentrations of the extract and exposure time. With respect to the calculated P-value for time variable (P < 0.05), there was statistically remarkable difference among different time periods, so the mean of the measured lesion was different regarding 6 weeks of experiment, and there observed a statistically significant difference in terms of the time of lesion measurement. Additionally, the prediction, isolation, purification, and application of the effective compounds found in the Pistacia atlantica extract is highly suggested for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arid and semi-arid regions are characterised by extreme conditions including drought stress and salinity. These factors profoundly affect the agricultural sector. The objective of this work is to study the effect of drought and re-watering on leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and mineral nutrition in Pistacia vera and Pistacia atlantica. Water stress was applied to individuals of P. vera and P. atlantica for 23 days, followed by rehydration for 7 days. The results showed a clear reduction in water relations, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll content in P. vera. Compared to P. vera, P. atlantica maintained less affected water status, total chlorophyll content, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, stable Zn and Fe proportion, and even elevated K and Cu. The changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter were manifested particularly at the maximal fluorescence (Fm). In contrast, no change was recorded at the minimal fluorescence (F0). After re-hydration, although water status was fully recovered in both species, stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthesis (A) and transpiration rate (E) remain with lower values than the wellwatered seedlings. P. atlantica was better adapted to drought stress than P. vera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We herein demonstrate a novel green mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Pistacia atlantica bark aqueous extract for the treatment of gastric cancer under in vitro conditions. Physicochemical and structural features of the nanocomposite biomaterial were assessed by several techniques like UV-Vis spectrum, transmission electron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The Ag NPs showed high antioxidant activities against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The IC50 of Ag NPs and Butylated hydroxytoluene against DPPH were 132 and 77 µg/mL, respectively. In the oncological part of this research, the status of normal and gastric cancer AGS and KATO III cell lines was determined. The IC50 of AgNPs was 193 and 250 µg/mL against AGS and KATO III. It seems that the prepared NP have stopped the growth of gastric cancer cells and the recent cancer cells have been removed with high concentration of NPs.

Introduction: In recent years, attention has been paid to the effects of global climate change on different species and ecosystems. Among these, three important issues of increasing air temperature, change in carbon dioxide concentration and nitrogen deposition in relation to environmental changes and the response of plants to them, have been widely studied in many places around the world. and is often related to climate change. Climate change can cause an increase in the growing season or a change in rainfall. The greatest effect of climate on tree growth can be seen in the width of annual tree rings. The formation of annual rings of a tree is affected by many different environmental and physiological factors, among which climate changes play a special role. The change in the growth and development of trees is one of the first reactions of trees to climate change. This study was conducted with the aim of monitoring the effect of climatic variables on the growth and distribution range of Pistacia atlantica tree species in Zagros forests in Ilam province using tree chronology.Materials and methods: For this purpose, sampling was carried out using an upgraded annunciator drill from 23 trees according to the extent of each climatic class using the Demartin method in Ilam province. After preparing the samples, the width of the annual vegetation rings was measured using Motic image software with high accuracy for a period of 30 years (1991 to 2022).Results: Based on the results of the average growth of each station, it was determined that Haft Cheshme station located in the Mediterranean climate class of Dumarten with an average growth of 1.13 mm has the highest growth and Manshet station located in the semi-humid climate class of Dumarten with an average growth of 0.83 has the lowest growth. In general, regions with Mediterranean climate have higher growth rate and semi-humid and semi-arid climates are in the next ranks respectively. Meteorological data from WorldClim station were used to understand the relationship between growth and climate. The Pearson correlation results of climatic variables with the growth of Bene species in the sampled stations showed that in the semi-arid climate, with the decrease in altitude above sea level, diameter growth has the highest correlation with the average maximum temperature variable, and with the increase of altitude above sea level, it has the highest correlation with the variable Precipitation is dependent, and in the Mediterranean climate, growth in higher areas has the highest correlation with the variable of precipitation, and with the decrease in altitude, growth is dependent on the average maximum temperature variable. Also, in semi-humid climates, growth has the highest correlation with the average maximum temperature variable, and with the increase in altitude The degree of correlation decreases from sea level.Discussion: The results show that the growth of areas with an altitude higher than 1700 and an altitude lower than 1000 is more affected by the average maximum temperature, and the changes in the maximum temperature are the main factor limiting the distribution of Beneh species in Ilam province, so that with the increase in temperature, the species moves towards the heights. And the regions with Mediterranean climate will migrate to reduce the effects of the maximum temperature factor, and as a result, with the passage of time, the distribution range of Beneh species will also decrease in these borders.

To determine the pharmaceutical applications, we assessed the evidence from preclinical studies about the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant potential of Pistacia atlantica (PA) as a natural source for prevention and treatment of diabetes. A comprehensive literature search of the articles published until March 12, 2022 was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Sciences, and Scopus databases, using relevant keywords. This meta‐analysis included 12 articles that examined the blood glucose (BG), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). A random‐effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect size. Findings indicated that PA supplementation significantly decreased BG, HOMA‐IR, TC, TG, and MDA, and increased insulin and SOD in diabetic animals compared with control group (p <.05). However, PA supplementation had no significant effects on HDL‐C (p >.05). The subgroup analysis also confirmed the beneficial effect of PA supplementation with longer duration (>4 weeks) and higher doses (≥100 mg/kg/day) as well as in the extract type. The studies have heterogeneity associated with methodological diversity and there were some concerns about the risk of bias, especially about randomization and blind outcome assessment. This meta‐analysis provided convincing evidence for antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant activity of PA in animals. Further high‐quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work is to evaluate the species Pistacia atlantica by analyzing the chemical composition of the methanolic extract of the plant leaves; then by determining its content on phenolic compounds, flavonoids and condensed tannins; and finally by testing its antioxidant and inhibitory activities against some enzymes involved in several diseases. To identify phenolic compounds, a high-performance liquid chromatography analysis with ultraviolet detector was used; Folin--Ciocalteu tri-chloroaluminum and vanillin methods were carried out for phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and condensed tannins quantification, respectively. The antioxidant effect was tested by five different methods. Acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase were used to evaluate the inhibitory power of the plant against those enzymes. The results indicated the presence of phenolic compounds in the extract, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. The total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and condensed tannins contents obtained, respectively, were equal to 36.089 ± 0.047 mg equivalent of galic acid per gram, 0.775 ± 0.01 mg equivalent of quercetin per gram, and 5.44 ± 0.5 mg of equivalent catechin per gram of dry plant. High antioxidant activity was observed and it wasexpressed by IC50 ranging from 3.50 ± 0.05 to 11.11 ± 4.03 μg/ml and concentrations at absorbance 0.5 from 0.84 ± 0.08 to 54.57 ± 0.24 μg/ml values. Strong antidiabetic effect was recorded which far exceeds the effect of acarbose, and interesting anti-Alzheimer and anti-tyrosinase effects were noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rehabilitation of degraded Mediterranean areas requires reintroduction of key-stone woody species. However, seed germination and seedling establishment for native species are poor. Germination behavior of Pistacia atlantica Desf. and Pistacia lentiscus L. in response to temperature (15, 20, 25 and 30°C), salinity (0, 10, 25 and 50 mM NaCl) and scarification (seeds with/without pulp) were analyzed. The response of seedling establishment to water deficit was related to soil moisture at 100 and 50% of the field capacity. Scarification facilitated germination while salinity should not exceed 50 mM NaCl and temperature must be between 20 and 25°C for P. lentiscus and 25°C for P. atlantica. In P. atlantica, seedling establishment was susceptible to water deficit and it showed high-water requirement. The survival of stressed P. atlantica seedlings are attributed to the reduction in stomatal conductance, carbon assimilation and shoot growth, and acceleration of old leaf senescence and root growth. The divergence within both species in seed germination, carbon assimilation, growth and biomass allocation are interpreted as a plasticity response, indicating a specialization to either original or resource habitats. For this reason, in reforestation programs, poor performance of planted seedlings is also associated with soil water deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tree Atlas pistachio represents an ecosystem of ecological, biogeographical and economic importance, with medical, pharmaceutical and economic value. Many insects find shelter in these trees and infect the leaves in an unknown way. In the present study, a comparative analysis was undertaken to conduct a microscopic anatomy study of Pistacia atlantica gall and ungalled leaflets. The gall was induced by aphid Forda riccobonii (Stephani 1899). The histological study was performed on healthy and galled leaflets, using semi-fine cut. The results show the modification of the leaflet with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the parenchyma cells and vascular bundles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Pistacia atlantica is one of the medicinal plants native to Iran and known for its antimicrobial properties. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal effects of the aqueous extract of P. atlantica leaves on clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Candida albicans in vivo. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-cross-sectional study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal/ fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) of aqueous extract of pistachio leaf were determined on 60 isolates of E. coli and 60 isolates of C. albicans, according to CLSI protocol at concentrations of 0.125-100 mg/ml. The obtained results were analyzed using R software at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean minimum inhibitory concentrations of coriander extract for E. coli and C. albicans clinical isolates were obtained at 45.3±1.0 and 43.7±1.1 mg/ml, respectively. The comparison of the minimum concentration of growth inhibitor and lethality of clinical isolates with standard E. coli strain was not significantly different (P=0.65); nonetheless, the standard strains of C. albicans were significantly different from the clinical isolates of this fungus (P

Background & Aim: Tendon is the connective tissue between bone and muscle. Because of poor blood flow and the possibility of adhesions during repair, tendon injury management is particularlyimportant.Therefore, finding a quick way to repair tendon tissue is one of the targets that has been pursued over the years. Experimental: In this study, 24 male rats were divided into 4 groups, including first group without any treatment, second group receiving dexamethasone (1mg/kg), third group receiving 250 mg/kg Viola odorata and Pistacia atlantica extract, fourth group receiving 500 mg/kg and Pistacia atlantica and Viola odorata extract. After anesthesia of rat acute tendonitis developed. Al the mentioned groups were injected subcutaneously on bigining day, 7 and 21 days after surgery and histopathological evaluation was performed on day 21. Results: The results showed no statistical significance in the number of fibroblasts between different groups. However, dexamethasone groups and the one receiving 500 mg/kg of extract differed significantly from the control group in terms of inflammation and bleeding. Furthermore, the number of fibrocytes in the groups receiving 500 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg doses of Viola odorata and Pistacia atlantica extracts was significantly different from the control and dexamethasone groups (P

Background and objectives: The oleoresin of Pistacia atlantica Desf. (known as “Baneh” in Iran) has been frequently used in traditional medicine for its medicinal properties. Herein, P. atlantica essential oil was investigated for its antimicrobial and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities since α-pinene which has been identified as the most abundant component in Pistacia genus oil, has demonstrated antimicrobial and anti-α-glucosidase properties. Methods: Fresh oleoresin was collected from Javanroud, Kermanshah, Iran and the essential oil was obtained by Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical composition of essential oil was identified with GC/MS analysis and compared with those reported from various regions. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against various strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Lactobacilli spp.) through MIC method. Also, its anti-α-glucosidase property and antioxidant activity by DPPH assay were investigated. Results: GC/MS analysis of the essential oil confirmed the presence of nineteen compounds and among them, α-pinene (64.8%) was identified as the major constituent. Also, β-pinene (5.7%) and cis-limonene oxide (4.5%) were relatively abundant. Our results revealed antimicrobial properties of the “Baneh” essential oil against various bacterial and fungal strains. Moreover, it demonstrated inhibitory activity toward α-glucosidase with IC50 value of 41.5 ± 2.5 mg/mL compared with acarbose (IC50=0.5±0.2 mg/mL). DPPH free-radical scavenging activity assay showed antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 155.2 ± 1.4 mg/mL compared with quercetin (IC50=250.0±0.0 μg/mL). Conclusion: Pistacia atlantica oleoresin essential oil depicted satisfactory antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. However, it demonstrated low antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects.

In this study, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and antimicrobial property of P. atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica leaf-bud extract have been investigated. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined in vivo by reducing carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in mice, while the antiradical function was evaluated using DPPH, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reduction power assays. The extract induced a significant reduction of the edema, from 1 to 6 h in a dose-dependent manner (150, 200 and 300 mg/kg). Histological observations of the inflamed tissues also confirmed this. An effective antioxidant activity of the plant samples was demonstrated, showing an EC50 = 0.183 ± 0.005 mg/mL for the DPPH test, a value of 28.776 ± 2.541 mg AAE/g for the TAC and an EC50 = 0.136 ± 0.003 mg/mL for reducing power. The leaf-bud extract also revealed a good antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes (mean diameter of inhibition zones of 13.2 and 17.0 mm, respectively), while a slight antifungal effect was observed. The plant preparation was then documented to inhibit tyrosinase activity, with an EC50 value of 0.098 ± 0.00 mg/mL in a dose-dependent manner. HPLC–DAD analysis revealed that dimethyl-allyl caffeic acid and rutin were the most abundant molecules. The current data documented that P. atlantica leaf-bud extract has strong biological properties and constitutes a potential source of pharmacological molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pistacia Atlantica in folk medicine is used by Algerian traditional healers for treating a wide variety of diseases and conditions including dyspepsia, digestive problems, peptic ulcers, and, in particular, inflammatory diseases. The present study aimed to assess the phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant activity (using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ABTS+, and reducing power methods), enzyme inhibitory activity (towards α-amylase and urease), antibacterial activity, and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the unripe fruit extracts of Pistacia atlantica collected from different parts of the Djelfa region of Algeria. According to the findings, various aqueous extracts exhibited significant antioxidant and enzymatic activities in all tests, but showed that they have a weak inhibitory effect against all tested bacterial strains. Twenty-one minerals comprising both macro- and microelements (Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th, U, and Zn) were determined using the technique of neutron activation analysis (INAA). The result indicates that the concentration of the mineral element is close to the minimal FAO recommendation. In addition, the result revealed significant anti-inflammatory activities. The data generated can be a valuable source of information for the pharmaceutical industry and medical research. These results suggest that the unripe fruit extracts of Pistacia atlantica have an appropriate potential to be utilized across a wide range of contexts as an agent with multifunctional uses, as well as a natural remedy for other physiological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disadvantages of conventionally utilized techniques for the synthesis of organic and inorganic compounds include costliness, non-eco-friendliness, less effectiveness, and unsuitability in large-scale procedures. Green procedures minimize injurious chemical compounds and equipment, are inexpensive, facile, produce no detrimental chemicals, and are highly efficient. Nano-scale significantly raises the potentiality of compounds and the green methods of synthesis in synthetic chemistry are superior alternates and effective relative to conventionally used techniques. Calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) are of value in adsorption, antimicrobial activities, catalysis, and adsorption. Green synthesis is the most preferable formulation technique because of using contamination-free chemical compounds and encouraging the application of non-toxic solvents, including water and plant extracts. This investigation aimed to propose the synthesis of CaO nanoparticles by an environmental-friendly green synthesis by P. atlantica leaf extract. The CaO-NPs were characterized in detail. In our investigation, the UV-Vis spectrums were determined in wavelengths ranging from 270 to 350 nm, suggesting [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous knowledge is the accumulated knowledge, skills, and techniques of a particular community that results from their direct interaction with the environment that should be respected as a source of environmental knowledge. Indigenous knowledge is an important part of the life of local forest communities and plays an important role in their lives. In this research we tried to record the indiginous knoeledge of gum extraction of wild pistachio in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Snowball sampling method was used to collect information. Data were recorded using semi-structured interviews and by writing information, video recording of events, and taking pictures. Information was analyzed by editing documents, integrating, transforming and highlighting information. The results of this study showed that the local people consider the pistachio tree as an economic plant and strongly avoid from cutting and damaging it, and even try to protect and develop it. Gum is the important byproduct of pistachio tree and gum extraction takes place in different stages including tree selection, rifting, put the bowl, double and triple rifting, purification and cooking the gum. Medicinal use of gum is the most common use of this product. Local resident believe to the technical and principled use of pistachio trees.

Objective: To assess the anti-tumor effects of Pistacia atlantica methanolic extract (PAME) compared with cyclophosphamide against Ehrlich solid tumors in mice. Methods: Swiss albino mice (n=40) were divided into five groups: normal control mice, mice with Ehrlich solid tumors treated with normal saline, mice with Ehrlich solid tumors treated with cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally once a day for 14 d, or 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg PAME orally once a day for 14 d. Tumor growth inhibition, body weight, tumor markers, liver and kidney enzymes, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, tumor necrosis factor-alpha level (TNF-α), and apoptosis-regulatory gene expression were evaluated. Results: Treatment of mice bearing Ehrlich solid tumors with PAME at 50 and 100 mg/kg orally significantly decreased tumor volume, body weight, tumor markers, liver and kidney enzymes, oxidative stress markers and TNF-α level in comparison with mice with Ehrlich solid tumors receiving normal saline. whereas PAME at 50 and 100 mg/kg/day significantly elevated the level of antioxidant enzymes (P

Background and Aims: Pistacia atlantica is one of the medicinal plants native to Iran and known for its antimicrobial properties. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal effects of the aqueous extract of P. atlantica leaves on clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Candida albicans in vivo. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-cross-sectional study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal/ fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) of aqueous extract of pistachio leaf were determined on 60 isolates of E. coli and 60 isolates of C. albicans, according to CLSI protocol at concentrations of 0.125-100 mg/ml. The obtained results were analyzed using R software at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean minimum inhibitory concentrations of coriander extract for E. coli and C. albicans clinical isolates were obtained at 45.3±1.0 and 43.7±1.1 mg/ml, respectively. The comparison of the minimum concentration of growth inhibitor and lethality of clinical isolates with standard E. coli strain was not significantly different (P=0.65); nonetheless, the standard strains of C. albicans were significantly different from the clinical isolates of this fungus (P<0.001). Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of the present study, the aqueous extract of P. atlantica leaves has inhibitory effects on the clinical isolates of E. coli and C. albicans. Therefore, it is possible to use the aqueous extract of this plant in isolation or in combination with other drugs to treat urinary tract and vaginal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biological activities of Pistacia atlantica have been investigated for few decades. The fruit oil of the plant has been used for treatment of wounds, inflammation, and other ailments in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM). Objectives: The main objectives of this study were to analyze the chemical composition of Pistacia atlantica fruit oil and to study wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects of oil-absorbed bacterial cellulose in an in vivo burn wound model. Method: Bacterial cellulose membrane was prepared from Kombucha culture and Fourier-transform infrared was used to characterize the bacterial cellulose. Cold press technique was used to obtain Pistacia atlantica fruit oil and the chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. Bacterial cellulose membrane was impregnated with the Pistacia atlantica fruit oil. Pistacia atlantica hydrogel was prepared using specific Carbopol. Burn wound model was used to evaluate in vivo wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects of the wound dressings containing either silver sulfadiazine as positive control, Pistacia atlantica hydrogel or bacterial cellulose membrane coated with the Pistacia atlantica fruit oil. Blank dressing was used as negative control. Results: FT-IR analysis showed that the structure of the bacterial cellulose corresponded with the standard FT-IR spectrum. The major components of Pistacia atlantica fruit oil constituted linoleic acid (38.1%), oleic acid (36.9%) and stearic acid (3.8%). Histological analysis showed that bacterial cellulose coated with fruit oil significantly decreased the number of neutrophils as a measure of inflammation compared to either negative control or positive control (p < 0.05). Wound closure occurred faster in the treated group with fruit oil-coated bacterial cellulose compared to the other treatments (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that bacterial cellulose coated with Pistacia atlantica fruit oil can be a potential bio-safe dressing for wound management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various therapeutic activities of Pistacia atlantica var. mutica such as hypoglycemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity were shown by several studies. Regarding these therapeutic activities, and due to advantages of nanoparticles for drug delivery systems, the anti-colitic effects of P. atlantica var. mutica oleoresin nanoparticles were studied in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats. Nanoparticles were synthesized by using ethanol and acetone as solvent. Nano precipitation method was also used for nanoparticles synthesis. P. atlantica oleoresin was orally administered to acetic acid-induced colitis rats at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Then rats were killed and their colons were dissected away for histopathological and macroscopic tests. Statistical results showed homogeneity and uniformity in size and size distribution of fabricated nanoparticles. Proposed models for size and size distribution of nanoparticles were also adequate (P value

Background and objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a recurrent chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. In Iranian traditional medicine, the oleo-gum-resin of the genus Pistacia is recommended for treatment of various diseases including gastrointestinal disorders. The present study investigated the therapeutic action of a combination of Pistacia atlantica subspecies kurdica oleo-gum-resin and honey in acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Methods: Pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin was mixed with honey. The mixture was suspended in distilled water. Following induction of colitis with 4% acetic acid in all animals, except in sham group,themixture was orally administered for two consecutive days at the concentrations of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg. Other groups included the control, sham and a standard group (dexamethasone). Microscopic and histopathologic examinations were conducted in inflamed colonic tissue. The inflammatory biomarkers of colitis including interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the gene expression level of toll like receptor-4 (TLR-4) were assessed. Results: Pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin+ honey induced significant progress in macroscopic and microscopic scores. Colonic levels of MPO, IL-6, and TNF-α significantly declined in rats treated with the mixture; while significant decrease in mucosal gene expression of TLR-4 and significant improvement of colitis were observed. Pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin (400 mg/kg) + honey (400 mg/kg)reduced inflammation of the bowel and colonic ulcer severity shown by downregulation of inflammation cytokines, reduction of neutrophil infiltration, and suppression of TLR-4 expression. Conclusion: The combination might be a promising supplement for treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Some herbs have a wide range of beneficial properties, including stimulating and strengthening the immune system, their use in fish farms improves growth. Sixty healthy rainbow trout were selected with 150 g weight. They were randomly divided into 2 groups of 30 each with 3 replications. The essential oil was added to the daily diet with 10 g / kg feed and after 3 months the fish were assayed and sampled. some blood parameters was performed. The results showed that the control group had lower food conversion ratio (p < 0.05). Also, consumption of essential oil at this dose had negative effect on liver function and liver enzymes significantly increased (p < 0.05). Total protein, albumin, and blood glucose were decreased and uric acid and creatinine were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The blood cells were significantly decreased. In the histological examination around the central veins of liver was severe degeneration. Evaluation of blood biochemical values showed that AST, ALT in the treatment group significantly increased and total protein and albumin in the treatment group decreased significantly (P

The present study reports on a green method for the fabrication of wound dressing loaded with Pistacia atlantica extract. The oil was extracted from P. atlantica plant using a solvent extraction process. The UV–vis spectroscopy showed that the phenolic compounds existed in the P. atlantica oil (PAO). The result of the antioxidant activity with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay illustrated an IC50 value of 7.26 mg/ml, which indicated that the PAO was a significant source of natural antioxidants. Then, the PAO-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-sodium alginate (SA) nanofibres were successfully produced using the electrospinning process. The results of field emission scanning electron microscopy showed that the addition of the PAO to the polymer solution increased the diameter of the fabricated nanofibres, while the optimum blending concentration of the PAO for obtaining the maximum scaffold stiffness was almost 1.5% (w/v). The physical properties of the fabricated nanofibres were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction technique, and thermogravimetric-derivative and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the PAO was bonded to the structure of the PVA/SA nanofibres, and the crystallinity, as well as the thermal stability of the fabricated nanofibres increased due to this attachment. In addition, the experiments showed that the PAO concentration in the structure of the fabricated nanofibres played a major role in the drug release rate, and increasing the PAO concentration from the optimum value decreased the controlled release of the drug. Last, based on the two-film theory, a mass transfer model was developed to predict the PAO released from the fabricated wound dressing.

In this study, the antidiabetic, antiobesity, antioxidant, and antihyperlipidemic effects potential of Pistacia atlantica Desf. leaves were evaluated by in vitro methods. The effects of the leaves of the plant on pancreatic lipase, pancreatic cholesterol esterase, and PTP1B enzymes were investigated for the first time and it was observed that leaf methanol extract (IC50: 123.67 ± 0.40 μg/ml) and n -hexane sub-extract (IC50: 61.03 ± 0.11 μg/ml) had much stronger effects on pancreatic cholesterol esterase enzyme than simvastatin (IC50: 142.30 ± 5.67 μg/ml). The methanolic extract of P. atlantica leaves exerted strong inhibitory effect on the enzymes (α -amylase and α -glucosidase) effective on carbohydrate digestion. It was thought that the methanol extract could provide significant benefits against oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus since it showed antioxidant activities (DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power) as strong as reference compounds (ascorbic acid and quercetin). Qualitative and quantitative analyzes of rutin (0.328 ± 0.000 g/100 g dry extract), methyl gallate (5.245 ± 0.014 g/100 g dry extract), quercetin-3- O- glucoside (0.231 ± 0.000 g/100 g dry extract), and gallic acid (0.528 ± 0.127 g/100 g dry extract) in methanol extract were performed by RP-HPLC. The phytochemical content of the active sub-fraction obtained from the leaf methanol extract by activity-guided fractionation and column chromatography studies was characterized by LC-QTOF-MS. The presence of trigalloylglucose, digalloylglucose, and methyl gallate in the G6 coded sub-fraction obtained by chromatographic techniques from the ethyl acetate sub-extract, which has the highest inhibitory effect on α -amylase and α -glucosidase enzymes, was determined by LC-QTOF-MS. In addition to the G5 coded subfraction, a strong α -glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity was also observed in the G6 coded sub-fraction, and methyl gallate, methyl digallate, 2″- O -galloyl-quercetin-3- O -hexoside, and myricetin-3- O -hexoside were identified in this sub-fraction. This study displayed that the methanol extract of P. atlantica leaves could be a potential source for bioactive compounds with antidiabetic effects by showing inhibitory effects on enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pistacia atlantica has an anti-cancer effect due to its essential oil which is the major constituent of P. atlantica. Unfortunately, this essential oil evaporates easily and makes it less effective. The current research, therefore, aimed to improve the anti-cancer effect of P. atlantica essential oil (PAEO) in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). The chemical components of PAEO were assessed by gas chromatography. PAEO-SLNs were prepared by the probe-ultrasonication method, and their particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential were determined. Encapsulation Efficiency (EE%) and Loading Capacity (LC%) of formulations was also calculated. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to determine the morphology of optimal formulation (PAEO-SLN4). Furthermore, the anticancer effects of PAEO-SLN4 against MDA-MB-231 cells were evaluated by cellular assays. The results showed that the type of surfactant and loading of the essential oil had a significant effect on size distribution, zeta potential and the polydispersity index. The encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and loading capacity for PAEO-SLN4 were 97.3% and 9.6%, respectively. The cellular assay demonstrates that PAEO-SLN4 could lead MDA-MB-231 cells to apoptosis. The findings also revealed that PAEO-SLN4 can stimulate apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells more than the placebo and free PAEO thereby indicating PAEO-SLN4 to be beneficial in breast cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli is the cause of many surgical wound infections.This study was designed to investigate the antibacterial effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Capparis spinosa and pistacia atlantica on E. coli in surgical wounds using a rat model. The antimicrobial activity of Capparis spinosa and pistacia altantica extract was first determined by paper disk diffusion method to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and also Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Then, 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three treatment groups. A circular incision was made on the dorsal inter-scapular region of each rat. Then, rats were inoculated topically with 1.5×108 CFU of E. coli at the site of skin wounds. The extracts of Capparis spinosa and Pistacia atlantica was applied to wounds twice a day during the experiment. Animals of the control group were left untreated. The results showed that the extract of Caparis spinosa and Pistacia atlantica had antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial activity of Capparis spinosa extract against E. coli was higher than the Pistacia atlantica extract (The MIC and MBC values). Also there was a significant difference in the rats treated with the extracts in comparison to the control group. It can be concluded that the extracts of these plants have antimicrobial properties and inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli in infected wounds and thus can accelerate the wound healing process. Conflict of interest: None declared.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Busulfan is a chemotherapy drug that has side effects such as hepatic and renal injury. Pistacia atlantica from the family Anacardiaceae has a potent antioxidant agent due to phenolic compounds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Pistacia atlantica on histopathology and liver and kidney function indicators in busulfan-induced liver and kidney injuries in adult mice. METHODS: A total of 28 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups (control, busulfan, bene and bene+busulfan). The busulfan group received 10 mg/kg busulfan as a single dose and intraperitoneally. The bene group received plate containing 10% of bene for 35 days. The bene+busulfan group received 10 mg/kg busulfan+10% bene. Then, liver enzymes alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, urea, creatinine and histopathology of liver and kidney investigated. FINDINGS: The mean urea (P= 0.009) and creatinine level (P= 0.02) in the busulfan group was 55.2±4.23 and 0.8±0.11 mg/dl that it was significantly higher than the bene + busulfan. A significant decrease in ALT level in the bene + busulfan group compared to the busulfan treated group (P= 0.03). In the bene treated group steatosis, necrosis and fibrosis in the liver parenchyma and glomerular sclerosis, inflammation and tubular atrophy in kidney tissue, was not observed. CONCLUSION: The results of present study indicated that administration of 10% bene for 35 days improved histopathology of kidney and liver as well as functional index of liver and kidney after renal-liver injury.

Pistacia Atlantica in folk medicine is used by Algerian traditional healers for treating a wide variety of diseases and conditions including dyspepsia, digestive problems, peptic ulcers, and, in particular, inflammatory diseases. The present study aimed to assess the phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant activity (using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ABTS+, and reducing power methods), enzyme inhibitory activity (towards α-amylase and urease), antibacterial activity, and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the unripe fruit extracts of Pistacia atlantica collected from different parts of the Djelfa region of Algeria. According to the findings, various aqueous extracts exhibited significant antioxidant and enzymatic activities in all tests, but showed that they have a weak inhibitory effect against all tested bacterial strains. Twenty-one minerals comprising both macro- and microelements (Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th, U, and Zn) were determined using the technique of neutron activation analysis (INAA). The result indicates that the concentration of the mineral element is close to the minimal FAO recommendation. In addition, the result revealed significant anti-inflammatory activities. The data generated can be a valuable source of information for the pharmaceutical industry and medical research. These results suggest that the unripe fruit extracts of Pistacia atlantica have an appropriate potential to be utilized across a wide range of contexts as an agent with multifunctional uses, as well as a natural remedy for other physiological diseases.

Pistacia atlantica, an Irano-Touranian member of the Anacardiaceae family, is known for its distinctive ecological plasticity. Both ecological plasticity and phenotypic plasticity are closely related. This latter concept is defined as the variability of phenotypic expression of one genotype exposed to different environmental conditions and producing a large phenotypic range. It is likely that phenotypic plasticity plays an important role in diversification. The morphological features are very important for species characterization. They have mono or a polygenic determinism but they can be influenced by the environmental factors. In the current review, a taxonomic retrospection of Pistaciaatlanticais exposed focusing essentially on its taxonomic status evolution, followed by a botanical characterization of Pistaciaatlantica subsp. atlantica, the only observed representative of the species in North Africa.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration, including deficits in memory and other cognitive functions. Oxidative stress and free radical damage play significant roles in its pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of Pistacia atlantica gum (administered at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for 14 days) in a rat model of AD induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl 3 ). Behavioral changes were assessed using open field, passive avoidance, and elevated plus maze tests. Additionally, nitrite levels, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and immunostaining were evaluated. Administration of P. atlantica gum significantly increased step-through latency in the passive avoidance test (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001), enhanced mobility in the open field test (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001), and reduced anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze (P < 0.001) compared to the AlCl 3 group. Treatment with the gum partially normalized the elevated levels of NF-κB and the decreased levels of BDNF caused by AlCl 3 exposure. Our findings suggest that P. atlantica gum administration may alleviate oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment in AD rats., Competing Interests: The authors reported no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024, Gravandi et al.)

The medicinal plants may serve as potential sources for the development of new drugs and more effective anticancer agents for future therapy. Pistacia atlantica (Vahl.) Masters (Anacardiaceae) is an important plant used in traditional medicine practice in Algeria, and North Africa countries. The present study has the objective to estimate the in vitro antiproliferative (on the RD and Hep2 human tumor cell lines using the3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay) properties of the aqueous extracts of P. atlantica leaves, offering a phytochemical characterization of its aqueous extracts, by spectrophotometry methods. evealed by HPLC, phenolic compounds present among the five different flavonoids identified such as: ((epi)catechin, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol glycoside derivatives). The MTT assay revealed that the tested extract had a good activity against Hep2 and RD cell lines with median inhibitory concentration (GI50)> 1000 µg/mL against Hep2 and (IC50) = 825,079 µg/mL against RD, (GI 50). The results showed a great bioactive potential for this species with a significant contribution of phenolic compounds, specially the flavonoids which makes it an interesting matrix in the development of novel pharmaceutical formulations. Planned future studies will involve the identification of different extract other than aqueous extract, determination of the mechanisms of action and the bioactive molecule of plant extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of the compounds of rich plants growing in all over the world is of great importance. The performed survey was accomplished to analyze the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial potential of the fruit and flower of Pistacia atlantica subsp. kurdica Rech. f. which has been traditionally used for various therapeutic goals including tonic, aphrodisiac, and antiseptic aspects. Water, ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate solvents were utilized to obtain the extracts of P. atlantica which were screened to evaluate the existence of various phytochemicals including alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, resins, tannins, triterpenoids, steroids, starch, tannins, inorganic and organic acids, amino acids, coumarins, proteins, phenolic compounds, phlobatannins, saponins, antraquinones, oil and fat, flavonols, flavones, and chalcones. Moreover, the in vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of the extracts were performed against five strains of bacteria including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae and a fungus named Candida kefyr by agar plate well diffusion method. The findings of the survey suggest that the fruit and flower of P. atlantica are good sources of some phyto constituents such as carbohydrates, flavonoids, resins, inorganic acids, and phenolic compounds and have antibacterial effects against both gram-negative and -positive bacteria. These results prove the existence of many therapeutic chemical compounds in the fruit and flower of P. atlantica and its high potential of antimicrobial activity. This research supports the local use of this valuable plant as a herbal medicine, food additive, and jam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of disability and aging is the major risk factor. One of the low‐risk herbal medicines for reducing pain and inflammation in persian medicine is Pistacia atlantica gum. A triple‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial was performed in order to evaluate the efficacy of P. atlantica gum ointment on knee osteoarthritis in elderly people. A total of 60 patients were randomly allocated to two groups. The intervention group used 4% P. atlantica ointment and the control group used placebo, topically applied three times a day, for 8 weeks. The patients were evaluated before and after the intervention using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scale. There were significant differences (p <.001) between two the groups in terms of joint stiffness and pain as well as function. Within groups, regarding the effect size (EF) in joint stiffness was 2.82 and 0.74 in the Pistacia and placebo groups, respectively. Regarding pain, the effect size of the intervention and placebo groups were 3.90 and 0.99, respectively. In addition, regarding function, the effect size of the intervention and the placebo groups were 4.33 and 1.17, respectively. Therefore, it seems that topical P. atlantica is significantly better than the placebo in the old patients with knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles AgNPs were synthesized from an extract of Pistacia atlantica plant. After mixing the silver nitrate solution and extract of P. atlantica leaves, they changed its color to dark brown. UV–vis spectroscopy result showed maximum adsorption at 468 nm, which represents the characteristic surface plasmon resonance of nanosilver. FTIR spectroscopy results recorded a downward shift of absorption bands between 500 and 1700 cm−1 indicting the formation of silver nanoparticles. X-ray crystal analysis showed that the silver nanoparticles are highly crystalline and exhibit a cubic, face-centered lattice with characteristic (111), (200), (220), and (311) orientations. Composition analysis obtained from SEM–EDXA confirmed the presence of elemental signature of silver. Results also showed that biosynthesized AgNPs exhibit remarkable antioxidant activity using DPPH method with IC50 = 0.47 mg/ml. In addition, synthesized AgNPs were also found to control the growth of E. coli, S. aureus and Acinetobacter baumnnii on nutrient medium with 13, 12 and 11 mm mm zone of inhibition, respectively. The main compounds that were identified in the methanolic and the ethanolic extracts of P. atlantica Desf are ascorbic acid, gallic acid, tannic acid, rutin, and quercetin which were performed by HPLC technique. The AgNPs synthesized from the leaf extract of P. atlantica can be a good method for the preparation of various nano formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Improper use of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic resistance. On the other hand, due to the uncertainty of the stability and safety of artificial antioxidants, their use is not recommended. Plants can be used as a reliable and natural source of antioxidants. The Mastic (Baneh) plant with the scientific name of Pistacia atlantica is remarkable due to its various compounds and antibacterial properties. This stud aimed to investigate the antibacterial effects of aqueous extract of mastic tree leaf on six oral and gastrointestinal bacteria. Methods: In this study, the values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of aqueous extract of mastic leaf against 6 bacterial species were determined by the microdilution broth method. Each experiment was repeated three times. The results were analyzed using SPSS22 software by One-Way ANOVA and the least significant difference (LSD) statistical tests. Results: All studied bacteria were sensitive to different concentrations of aqueous extract of mastic leaves. The mean MIC of aqueous extract of mastic was significantly different between the studied bacteria (P<0.05); So that the sensitivity of gram-positive bacteria to the extract was significantly higher than gram-negative bacteria (P<0.05). The mean MBC of aqueous extract of mastic did not show a significant difference between tested bacteria (P=0.253). Conclusion: This study showed that the aqueous extract of mastic leaves has antibacterial properties that can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current need for biologically active substances that are sustainable, allegedly beneficial to health, and may be employed as ingredients in cosmetic products has encouraged numerous researchers. Pistacia atlantica is known to contain compounds that possess strong biological effects beneficial to health. The objective of this study was the quantification of the polyphenols in unripe Atlas pistachio (AP) fruit extract and the evaluation of hydro-methanolic extract and anthocyanins for their antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and antimicrobial effects. The results revealed that the yield of the hydro-methanolic extract was 22.15%, characterized by 75.12 mg GAE/g DM for total phenolics and strong content of hydrolysable tannins (400.16 mg GAE/g DM). 1,1-dimethyl-allyl caffeate, hydroxytyrosol, ellagic acid, rutin, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside were the most abundant components quantified by HPLC-DAD. The tyrosinase enzyme was significantly inhibited by AP extract (EC 50 = 0.70 mg/mL). For the antioxidant properties, the hydrolyzed anthocyanin extract exhibited the best action against reducing power and β-carotene, compared to anthocyanins crude extract and fruits. This extract showed its stronger antibacterial activity. In conclusion, unripe AP fruit is a promising source of diverse phytochemicals that can be applied in medicinal, nutraceutical, and cosmetic applications as antioxidants and antimicrobials. • The polyphenols in unripe Atlas pistachio (AP) fruit extract were quantified. • The bioactivity of the crude and hydrolyzed anthocyanins was evaluated. • Caffeate, hydroxytyrosol, and rutin were the major compounds identified. • The tyrosinase enzyme was significantly inhibited by AP extract. • The hydrolyzed anthocyanins showed enhanced antioxidant and antibiotic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ulcerative colitis is an idiopathic chronic, relapsing inflammation of the colon which is resulted from dysregulation of the mucosal immune system. In Iranian traditional medicine, oleoresin from Pistacia atlantica is used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, including peptic ulcers, dyspepsia and intestinal inflammation. Objective: In this study, we examined the therapeutic and protective effects of oleoresin in acetic acid-induced colitis in rat. Methods: The oleoresin was dissolved in Tween 80% (1% v / v) and doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were administered orally to animals. Three days after colitis induction, the rats were treated for 6 days and after determining the most effective dose in the treatment, the protective effect was evaluated using the optimal dose of the oleoresin for 6 days. In day 6, colitis was induced and continued for 3 days. At the end, animals were sacrificed for microscopic and macroscopic examination of colon tissues. Results: Dose dependently, Oleoresin of P. atlantica showed therapeutic effects on microscopic and macroscopic examination of colon tissue of rats with ulcerative colitis induced by acetic acid, in comparison with control group(P0.05). Conclusion: This study showed the beneficial effects of anti-inflammatory and wound healing oleoresin of P. atlantica in acetic acid- induced ulcerative colitis in rats.

Background: Pistacia atlantica subsp. kurdica is an endemic plant of Iran which belongs to Anacardiaceae family. This plant has been proposed as an efficacious remedy for gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, and peptic ulcer. Objective: In this study we decided to evaluate the efficacy and pharmacological mechanisms involved in anti-colitis effect of essential oil of Pistacia atlantica in Wistar rats. Method: Sixty Wistar rats were selected for this study and were categorized to 6 groups. Experimental colitis was induced with 3% acetic acid solution. Animals of treatment groups received different daily doses of the essential oil (25, 50, and 100 mg/Kg, orally) and.Sulphasalazine (as the standard drug), for 7 days. At the end of the study, the rats were sacrificed and the colon was removed and assessed for macroscopic and microscopic changes. Also, in order to identify the mechanisms involved in anti-colitis effect of this natural drug, the level of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 were evaluated. Results: The essential oil of Pistacia atlantica gum significantly reduced macroscopic and microscopic scores of colitis compared with control group (P

BACKGROUND: The present work stands as an endeavor to uncover the ideal harvesting time of leaves in which they exhibits the maximum contents of bioactive molecules such as essential fatty acids, tocopherols and carotenoids. METHODS: A large scale investigation was carried out for the leaves of Pistacia atlantica involving a large number of populations collected over a period of four months during the growing season. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using both DPPH and β-carotene assays. The chemical percentage variability of the fatty acids was investigated using statistical analysis methods (Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering "AHC", also cited as CAH). OBJECTIVE: During the growth period, the effects of harvesting date on the total contents of lipids, tocopherols, carotenoids, fatty acids composition and also the antioxidant activities of the lipids were investigated. RESULTS: The content of myristic acid and other saturated fatty acids increased during leaf development, while linoleic, linolenic acids and unsaturated fatty acids decreased. The highest percentages of both linolenic C18:3 (27.25±5.92%) and linoleic acids C18:2 (17.68±3.80%) were obtained for the month of May at the first stage of leaves development (young leaves), but higher percentage levels of C18:1, were obtained for both consecutive months of August & September (28.83±6.50%; 27.79±8.63%, respectively) at intermediate developing stage. The lipids, tocopherols, carotenoids contents and the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were dependent on the harvest time. The antioxidant activity showed higher powers at the first developing stage (May). Two main clusters and two sub-clusters of the fatty acids were distinguished and were also depending clearly on the period of the collection. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the FA were dependent on the period of collection of the leaves. The main result of this study illustrate the nutritional potential (richness in MUFA such as C18:1, 2, 3) of the oil of P. atlantica leaves, which can provide opportunities for rational exploitation in the food industries or for medicinal purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports an efficient and fast procedure for the purification of laccase (PaL) obtained from the resin of Pistacia atlantica Desf. It was purified by one-step affinity chromatography and showed the specific activity of 393 U/mg with 81.9-fold purification. The molecular weight of PaL was estimated to be approximately 60 kDa using gel electrophoresis SDS-PAGE. Moreover, it depicted diphenolase activity and high affinity towards 2,6-dimethoxy phenol (K m = 10.01 ± 0.5 mM) and syringaldazine (K m = 6.57 ± 0.2 mM) comparing with plant-origin polyphenol oxidases reported in the literature. It should be noted that PaL possessed optimal activity at pH 7.5 and 45 °C. It also remained stable under different conditions of pH (6.5–8.0), temperature (25–45 °C), and when it was exposed to several metal ions. The MTT and flow cytometry assays demonstrated that the enzyme treatment significantly affected growth of HeLa, HepG2, and MDA-MB-231 cells with LC 50 values of 4.83 ± 0.02, 61 ± 0.31, and 26.83 ± 0.11 μM after 72 h, respectively. This is the first attempt to isolate and characterize a new oxidoreductase from the resin of Pistacia atlantica Desf., native species of Iran, to recruit it in cytotoxicity researches. In the purification process by an efficient affinity column (SBA-NH 2 -GA), the enzyme was eluted promptly with a satisfied yield. The purified laccase exerted higher affinity to diphenolic compounds and pH-thermal stability compared to other plant-derived polyphenol oxidases. The purified enzyme was found to show anti-oxidant capacity and significantly inhibited the growth of cancerous cells in vitro. PaL showed more cytotoxic activity towards HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells by induction of apoptosis. The cytotoxic activity of the laccase was measured by flow cytometry. [Display omitted] • Pistacia atlantica laccase was efficiently eluted by new SBA-15-GA affinity column. • PaL shows pronounced affinity towards ortho -diphenolic substrates. • PaL retained about 50% of its initial activity at pH range of 6.5–7.5 at 25–35 °C. • Cytotoxic activity of PaL, significantly inhibits the growth of the cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pistacia atlantica Desf. (Atlas Pistachio) is an Anacardiaceae tree traditionally used in Tunisia for the treatment of ophthalmic, stomatitis, and digestive tract diseases. In the present study, the Pistacia atlantica Desf. roots extract (PR) was phytochemically analyzed, for the first time, by LC-ESI-MS for phenolic and flavonoid contents, in vitro tested for its potential antioxidant activity based on the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the reduced power essays (FRAP), and in vivo tested for its ability to shield against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice. The LC-ESI-MS analysis proved the identification of 12 compounds, including Quinic, Gallic, and Protocatechuic, as major phenolic acids and high levels of flavonoids, such as Catechin, Epicatechin, and Cirsiliol. PR also exhibited a mild in vitro antioxidant activity when compared with ascorbic acid. In vivo pretreatment of ethanol-ulcerated mice with PR doses 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w) significantly reduced (P<.05) gastric lesions at a rate of 20.10% and a rate of 40.90%, respectively, when compared with 60.70% rate of sucralfate (50 mg/kg b.w) evidenced by a dose-dependent manner increase in the gastric mucosa enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx) antioxidant levels, the decline of the lipid peroxidation, and the preservation of normal gastric superficial epithelium. The underlying mechanism of PR antiulcerogenic activity could be due to a synergistic effect of phenolic acids and flavonoid contents which enhances the gastric antioxidant defense system. Abbreviations: BHT: butylated hydroxytoluene, b.w: body weight, CAT: catalase, DPPH:1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DW: dry weight, EtOH: ethanol, FRAP: Ferric reducing antioxidant power, GAE: gallic acid equivalents, GPx: Glutathione peroxidase, QE: quercetin equivalents, LC-ESI-MS: Liquid chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, MDA: malondialdehyde, PR: Pistacia root, TBA: thiobarbituric acid reagent, TBARS: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TCA: trichloroacetic acid, SOD: Superoxide dismutase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially explicit estimates of aboveground biomass over large area are necessary for natural resources managers. This study examined aboveground biomass and carbon stock of the wild pistachio (Pistacia atlantica) based on individual tree crown detection and allometric development in the arid woodlands using high-resolution satellite images of GeoEye-1 in a reserved forest area of Wild Pistachio trees in the South Khorasan Province, East of Iran. Biomass of sampled trees was determined using field sampling and experimental tests. In addition, the biomass of stems was determined using volume and density. The allometric biomass and carbon stock equations of Wild Pistachio trees were developed based on crown area, diameter at breast height (1.3 m), and height of trees. The trees crowns were detected and delineated on the GeoEye-1 images, using local maxima filters, and region growing segmentation algorithms, respectively. In addition, a morphological watershed transformation method was applied to split the connected and overlapped tree crowns. Performing algorithms was assessed using the measured field crown of sample trees by precision, recall, and overall accuracy indices. The biomass and carbon stock of trees of the study area were estimated using delineated crown area and the developed allometric equations. The results showed that the equation that used crown area could explain more than 80% of the remarked variation in biomass and carbon stock. In addition, the crown detection method results showed that overall detection rate and the quality of crown boundaries were acceptable. In conclusion, the study confirmed that combining the allometric equations with crown information from high-resolution images could contribute to the explicit mapping of biomass and carbon stock of wild pistachio trees in the arid woodlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]