Chemical composition and biological properties of Thymus capitatus plants from Algerian high plains: A comparative and analytical study

The Lamiaceae family contains bioactive medic inal compounds mostly used as ornamental plants and traditional medicine, as well as in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors. Common uses include treating high cholesterol, diabetes, respiratory diseases, heart dis ease, and food poisoning. These medicinal uses were linked to their components and numerous biological properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidants. The goal of this study was to investigate the phytochemicals and biological activities of the petroleum ether extract of Thymus capi tatus plant from two different regions of eastern Algeria (Souk ahras and Guelma), as well as to extract volatile oils using a Clevenger device and then analyze by using GC-MS. The results revealed that the total amount of phenolic com pounds was better in the phenolic extract of Souk Ahras (3.41 mg GAE g−1 ), while the amount of flavonoid com pounds was higher in the region of Guelma (26.31 mg QE g−1 ). Following the quantification of phenolic compounds by HPLC, we observed that the phenolic extracts contained most of the standard compounds in variable proportions. Furthermore, we tested the antioxidant activity of the phenolic compounds electrochemically with the cyclic voltammetry method. We concluded that the highest antioxidant content was recorded in the Guelma region extract (3.17 mg GAE g−1 ). We have also evaluated the antioxidant activity by a chemical method using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and the results showed that the Guelma extract exhibited a high effectiveness in terms of IC50% values. When extracting the volatile oils, it was found that the highest yield was in the Guelma region

Stem extract from Costus afer (Bush cane) prevents ethanol-induced neuronal degeneration in mice via an antioxidant-inflammatory pathway

Background: Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with memory impairment and can lead to Alzheimer's disease-like dementia, contributing to the rising prevalence of dementia worldwide. Costus afer (Bush cane) is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional African medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. It is commonly employed to treat various ailments, including inflammatory diseases, respiratory conditions, and gastrointestinal disorders. Purpose: Given its traditional use in the treatment of kyphosis (hunchback) which is implicated in cerebral palsy and degenerative disease of the spine, we explored its potential neuroprotective effects against ethanol-induced neuronal degeneration, in this research, we examined the potential protective impacts on memory and neurology afforded by the aqueous stem extract derived from C. afer in mice subjected to ethanol exposure. Methods: Forty-five male Swiss mice weighing 22–35 g were divided into five groups (n = 9): control (treated with distilled water orally), memory-impaired (treated with ethanol at 5 g/kg orally), and three groups treated with ethanol followed by administration of C. afer at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg respectively. All animals were provided unrestricted access to both food and water throughout the duration of the study. Memory impairment was assessed after 28 days using the T-maze spontaneous alternation test. Subsequently, spectrophotometry, ELISA, and histomorphometry were employed to evaluate indicators of neuronal inflammation, oxidative stress linked to inflammation, and degenerative changes were assessed in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum. Results: Ethanol administration led to a notable (p < 0.01) decline in neurobehavioral function, as evidenced by reduced spontaneous alternation behavior, which was mitigated by C. afer treatment, leading to increased percentage alternation. Furthermore, ethanol administration altered endogenous antioxidant levels and pro-inflammatory mediators, resulting in elevated lipid peroxidation, nitrite, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and decreased superoxide dismutase activity, promoting neuronal degeneration in the mice brains. However, treatment with C. afer at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg substantially (p < 0.05) attenuated oxidoinflammatory stress by reducing levels of MDA, NO-2, TNF-α, IL-6, while upregulating SOD activity, thereby preserving neuronal integrity in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum. Conclusion: These findings suggest that C. afer mitigates the progression of memory impairment induced by ethanol through mechanisms involving the suppression of oxidoinflammatory stress facilitators and inhibition of cortico-hippocampal and cerebellar neuronal degeneration in murine subjects

Anticancer, antioxidant, ameliorative and therapeutic properties of kaempferol

ABSTRACTKaempferol, found in various plants and foods, has gained attention as a useful flavonoid owing to its potential biological properties, including anticancer characteristics. Recent research studies suggest that kaempferol is effective in the inhibition and treatments of several forms of cancer, e.g. lung, ovarian, breast and lung cancer. One probable mechanism of action of kaempferol is its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials, which may help to prevent DNA damage and inhibit the proliferation of cancerous cells. Besides triggering apoptosis in cancerous cells, Kaempferol may also inhibit the growth and relocation of cancerous cells. Moreover, kaempferol has a very wide range of bioactivities, involving anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This includes understanding the optimal dosing and timing of kaempferol treatment, as well as the potential interactions with other medications and the long-term safety of kaempferol use. Overall, the available evidence and studies suggest that kaempferol may provide a potential natural agent for the prevention and treatments of cancers. Despite the promising findings in preclinical and clinical research, further research is needed to confirm its efficacy and understand the mechanisms of action, and to fully explore the potential of kaempferol in different cancers

Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil ameliorates Bisphenol-A-induced adipokines dysfunctions and dyslipidemia

This study demonstrated the therapeutic potentials of Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil (CMSO) capable of alleviating BPA-induced dyslipidemia and adipokine dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated the effects of CMSO on adipokine dysfunctions and dyslipidemia in bisphenol-A (BPA)-induced male Wistar rats. Six-week-old 36 albino rats of 100–200 g weight were assigned randomly to six groups, which received varied doses of BPA and/or CMSO. The administration of BPA and CMSO was done at the same time for 42 days by oral intubation. The adipokine levels and lipid profile were measured in adipose tissue and plasma using standard methods. BPA induced significant (p &lt; .05) increases in triglycerides, cholesterol, leptin, LDL-C, and atherogenic and coronary risk indices in adipose tissue and plasma, as well as a decrease in adiponectin and HDL-C levels in Group II animals. BPA administration significantly (p &lt; .05) elevated Leptin levels and reduced adiponectin levels. BPA plus CMSO reduced triglycerides, cholesterol, leptin, LDL-C, and atherogenic and coronary risk indices while increasing adiponectin levels and HDL-C in adipose tissue and plasma (p &lt; .05). The results showed that BPA exposure increased adipose tissue as well as serum levels of the atherogenic index, triglycerides, cholesterol, coronary risk index, LDL-C, leptin, and body weight with decreased adiponectin levels and HDL-C. Treatment with CMSO reduced the toxicities caused by BPA in rats by modulating the body weight, adiponectin/leptin levels, and lipid profiles in serum and adipose tissue. This study has shown that CMSO ameliorates BPA-induced dyslipidemia and adipokine dysfunctions. We suggest for further clinical trial to establish the clinical applications