Antioxidant effect induced by the essential oil ofPituranthos scopariusin a formulation of a whey spread emulsion

Revealing the Therapeutic Potential of Pituranthos scoparius: Phytochemical Composition, Biological Activities, and Abiotic Stress Resilience Through In Vitro and In Silico Analyses From the Algerian Sahara

Although medicinal plants have the potential to be used therapeutically, little is known about the bioactive components and environmental stress reactions of the Algerian Saharan plant Pituranthos scoparius. The biological activity, phytochemical composition, adaptability, and molecular docking of the plant were evaluated in this work, along with dynamics simulations (in silico) that analyze how plant phytochemicals inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa LasR. In addition, osmolytes linked to edaphic factors and stresses were investigated in soil samples from Adrar. This latter was characterized by moderate limestone, low salinity, high potassium, and low phosphorus. Glycine betaine, proline, soluble carbohydrates, chlorophyll, and carotenoids were all present in stressed plants. GC-MS analysis revealed 40 major essential oil components, including β-phellandrene and exo-2-hydroxyanisole, while LC-MS detected β-carotene, riboflavin, and ascorbic acid. The ethanolic extract (IC50 = 164.86 ± 29.92 µg/mL) and essential oil (IC50 = 188.46 ± 5.49 µg/mL) exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory tests showed inhibition of albumin denaturation by the ethanolic extract (84.46 ± 0.008%) and essential oil (62.25 ± 0.015%) at 10 mg/mL. The ethanolic extract (100 mg/mL) also exhibited antibacterial activity, inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis (34 mm zones). On the other hand, the in silico analysis revealed that quercetin, methylbicyclo(4.4.0)decane (cis), and cianidanol effectively bound to and suppressed LasR. This study investigated the adaptability, phytochemical profile, biological activities, and microbial interactions of P. scoparius using in silico methods. The identification of key bioactive compounds and their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, including LasR inhibition, provides valuable insights for drug development.

The Genus Deverra DC. (Syn. Pituranthos Viv.): A natural valuable source of bioactive phytochemicals: A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties

The genus Deverra DC. (Apiaceae) comprising only 13 taxa (9 species and 4 subspecies level) with disjunctive distribution in South Africa, in North Africa to Arabian Ecoregion. Thesis, books, Scientific journals, and reports were referred to collect information on the Deverra species. This present work reviewed the literature from 1900 to the end of January 2021. The aim of the review is to highlight traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of the species of the genus. The ethnopharmacologial uses of plant taxa belonging to this genus indicated that plant extracts, Essentail Oils (EOs) and infusion of aerial parts (APs) have been used in traditional popular medicine. The plants are used as a treatment of various purposes, such as asthma, rheumatism, fevers, hepatitis, diabetes and digestive difficulties. This present work focuses on ethnopharmacology of the Deverra species, the phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology among other studies on the genus. The present article summarizes on known and potential effects of the Deverra species as well as traditional medicine uses corroborated with pharmacological evidences. By the end of the review, Deverra species have a large application of bioactivities and the most described activities of Deverra plants are attributed to the presence of essential oils, coumarins, furocoumarins, flavonoids and phenolics. CONCLUSIONS: The review confirms that some Deverra taxa have been reported as a valuable source for flavoring and as a condiment as well as in the traditional medicine for the treatment of hypertension, to relief stomach pain and against intestinal parasites against spasms, pains, diabetes, hepatitis, digestive difficulties, urinary infections … etc. Nonetheless, for the valorisation of Deverra species in order to prevent and treat various diseases, further pharmacological investigations are strongly required to determine the mechanism of action, test the safety and the efficacity before starting clinical trials at big scale.

Bio-guided isolation of leishmanicidal and trypanocidal constituents from Pituranthos battandieri aerial parts

Protozoan pathogens that cause neglected tropical diseases are a major public health concern in tropical and developing countries. In the course of our ongoing search for new lead compounds as potential antiprotozoal agents, this study aims to perform a bio-guided fractionation of Pituranthos battandieri, using an in vitro assay against Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. Two known polyacetylenes, (-)-panaxydiol (1) and (-)-falcarindiol (2) were identified from the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of P. battandieri as the main bioactive constituents. Compounds 1 and 2 showed similar potency (IC₅₀ values of 5.76 and 5.68 μM, respectively) against L. amazonensis to miltefosine (IC₅₀ value of 6.48 μM), the reference drug, and low toxicity on macrophage cell lines J774. Moreover, compound 1 exhibited moderate activity (IC₅₀ 23.24 μM) against T. cruzi. In addition, three known furanocoumarins, 8-geranyloxypsoralen (3), 8-geranyloxy-5-methoxypsoralen (4), and phellopterin (5) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 are described for the first time in the Pituranthos genus, and this is the first report on their antiprotozoal activity. These results highlight this type of polyacetylenes as an interesting scaffold for the development of novel antiparasitic drugs.

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity, and toxicity of Pituranthos scoparius stem extract: An ethnopharmacological study in rat and mouse models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pituranthos scoparius is a medicinal plant that is used in traditional medicine in Algeria and other North African nations to treat several diseases such as asthma, rheumatism, measles, dermatoses, jaundice, and digestive disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present investigation was designed to investigate an ethnobotanical survey about Pituranthos scoparius in Setif region, Algeria, and assess the acute toxicity, in vivo anti-inflammatory potential and analgesic effect of Pituranthos scoparius hydromethanolic stem extract (PSSE) in rats and mice models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Acute toxicity of PSSE was carried out based on OECD guidelines 425. Both possible death and signs accompanying toxicity of animals were monitored for 14 days to establish the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of PSSE. Anti-inflammatory effect of the extract was evaluated using the xylene, croton oil-induced ear edema, and carrageenan-induced paw edema, whereas the analgesic activity was evaluated using acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction in mice model.

RESULTS

Data from the ethnopharmacological survey showed that 24.47% of people used this plant in traditional (folk) medicine. Results also revealed that PSSE contains high amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, and that the extract did not cause any deaths or changes in the behavior of treated animals; LD₅₀ values were found to be higher than 5 g/kg BW. Additionally, no significant variations were observed in the alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes, or in the levels of urea and creatinine. Oral administration of PSSE at the doses of 100, 300, and 600 mg/kg produced a significant dose-dependent inhibition effect in both xylene and croton oil-induced ear edema in mice. Administration of PSSE at a dose of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.05) exhibited anti-edematogenic effect in the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema after 3 h. In acetic acid-induced writhing model, PSSE significantly (P < 0.05) reduced writhing at a dose of 500 mg/kg with 69.92% of inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken all together, PSSE is non-toxic, and exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Through the ethnomedicinal study, our findings highlight the medicinal use of PSSE in traditional medicine and as an additional source of natural and safe anti-inflammatory agents.