Background: Despite the availability of cultivated food crops and processed food, a large part of the Moroccan population, more particularly the populations of rural areas, still depend on the traditional use of wild plants, which constitute an important component of their food system. However, there is a lack of information on these plants and their medicinal and pharmacological properties, this is why our study aims to detect the antimicrobial activity of certain wild edible plants.Methods: disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of extracts of Mercurialis annua L, Papaver rhoeas L, Foeniculum vulgare Mill, Chenopodium mural L, and Scolymus hispanicus L against the bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonassp, and against the yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans, and Candida albicansResults: The results showed that the crudeextracts from all the plants studied showed more or less important antimicrobial activities on one or other of the pathogenic microorganisms tested, except for the extract of M. annua, which showed no activity against all microbial strains. The highest antibacterial activity was observed for Scolymus hispanicus L extract against Escherichia coli (diameter of the inhibition zone: Ø=9mm ), the highest antifungal activity was marked for Foeniculum vulgare Mill extract against Candida albicans (Ø=8mm), and the extract of Scolymus hispanicus L against Cryptococcus neoformans(Ø=8mm).Conclusion: These results reveal that, in addition to the role they play in the diet, the food plants studied have an additional biological value due to their bioactive compounds.Keywords: In vitroantibacterial activity; Antifungal activity; Food wild plants; crude extract, Morocco

Background: This study aimed to protect the knowledge related to the traditional uses of wild plant resources which constituted untapped potential as dietary supplements and therapeutic products Methods: An ethnobotanical survey based on the Semi-Structured Interview method was carried out among the Sidi Bennour region from February 2019 to February 2020.Results: The results showed that a total of 56 plant species representing 56 genera and 27 families were used to make different food dishes and in the treatment of various diseases. The most cited wild edible plants (WEPs) families were Asteraceae (16%). The leaves (38%) and stems (32%) were the most parts commonly used in food. Four utilization categories were cited, vegetables, for seasoning, as a drink, and Other (plants used to decorate or flavor traditional dishes). The use of these WEPs as vegetables was the most cited mode of consumption (37.5%) by the local population. The leaves were the most commonly used part (35%) for medicinal uses of WEPs. Decoction (27.27%) was the most common method of preparing traditional medicines. The majority of preparations were administered orally (80.25%). The study results showed also that local people have sufficient information on the safe use of WEPs.Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that the people of the Sidi Bennour region, hold rich traditional knowledge of a large number of WEPs, however, the study population underlined the sharp decline in the consumption of most of the species recorded consequently the detailed documentation may effectively prevent knowledge loss through time.

To gather recipes for traditional sourdoughs used to bake traditional bread, a survey was conducted in Figuig, a town located in the southeast of Morocco. The data of this survey is collected from a random sample of 100 rural women using a structured questionnaire. The data shows a total of 17 different traditional recipes mentioned by the interviewed women. Among the ingredients used in these recipes, whole wheat flour and warm water had the highest percentage of citations (31 %). It was also observed that 9 local products were used in these sourdough recipes, including whey, locally called “leben” (19 %), dried beans (16 %) and dates (15 %). Lemon, garlic, dried figs, raisins, flax seeds and carob flour were also mentioned as ingredients (1%). The participants also stated that the sourdoughs are transferred to different shapes and types of utensils for incubation and were alive for a variable amount of time depending on climatic conditions.

Background. Despite the efforts of health systems, the prevalence of malnutrition reflected by weight status still poses challenges for many countries around the world. In fact, with the decrease in undernutrition, excess weight and obesity are gradually increasing in parallel with that of chronic diseases. Among school-going adolescents, however, weight status is less studied, particularly in developing countries. Objective. The objective of this research is to examine the situation and the determinants of the weight status of adolescents in the province of El Jadida in Morocco. Material and methods. The study was carried out on a sample of 463 students from the province of El Jadida of which 58.1% are boys and 41.9% girls, ages 9 and 17. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurements including height, weight and waist and hip circumference. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated to determine underweight, overweight and general obesity and waist circumference and the waist circumference to hip circumference ratio were used to determine abdominal obesity. Results. The results indicate that only 59.6% of students had normal weight status, 40.4% had abnormal BMI values corresponding to thinness in 18.8% and overweight (overweight and obesity) in 21.6%. A significant difference in the prevalence of abnormal weight status by sex and level of physical activity was found. The results of the present study reveal an abnormal weight status in a large proportion of adolescents linked in addition to the peculiarities of the puberty phase to the sedentary lifestyle in the study population. Conclusions. The results obtained revealed the coexistence of over-nutrition and undernutrition which require a prevention policy based on regular monitoring of weight status as well as on nutritional education and the promotion of physical activity for children and parents.