To date, no information is available on the prevalence and genetic identity of Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle in Algeria. In this study, 17 dairy farms in the province of Batna, located in the northeast of the country, were visited to collect 132 fecal samples from young calves (< 8 weeks old). Samples were examined microscopically using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining method, and at least one sample per farm was submitted for molecular analysis. Amplification of a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene was positive for 24 of the 61 samples (40%), and sequence analysis identified three species, namely Cryptosporidium bovis (n = 14), C. ryanae (n = 6), and C. parvum (n = 4). The C. parvum IIaA13G2R1 subtype, an uncommon zoonotic subtype, was identified in two isolates from a single farm by sequencing a fragment of the GP60 gene. This is the first report about genotyping and subtyping of Cryptosporidium in calves in Algeria.

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In this study, our objective is to investigate the antioxidant activity by the means of two methods: the β-carotene bleaching method and DPPH assay as well as testing the antibacterial activity by the Agar-well diffusion method, of the extracts (EEp, EDm, EMe and EAq) from the sheets of Hertia cheirifolia. The quantitative analysis are showed that the highest content of total phenolic was concentrated in the methanolic extract with 30.33 ± 2.82 μg EAG/mg of extracts, in the second level the EAq extract and EDm extract with 25.92 ± 7.19 μg EAG/mg of extracts and 21.25 ± 1.76 μg EAG/mg of extracts respectively. The content of polyphenols was determined specrophotometrically and showed the presence of these compounds in all extracts. The analysis by TLC revealed the presence of quercetin in the EMe extract of this plant. In the β-carotene bleaching test, the EMe of this plant displayed highest antioxidant activity (72.97%), than in the DPPH assay with a radical-scavenging activity (72.74%). Our results of the antibacterial activity showed the inefficiency of the whole extracts against most of the tested strains.

Background: Hyoscyamus albus L is a small genus from Solanaceae family known by its use in old traditional medicine in the east of Algeria. Aim: This study aimed to characterize new bioactive molecules from H. albus, evaluate their anticancer activity in several cancer cells and investigate their possible molecular mechanism. Materials and Methods: New compounds (Peak h of fraction F), (Peak 3 of Fraction F), (Peak 1 of fraction C) were isolated from H.albus L. byusinghigh-performance chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS) and proton NMR (NMR H 1 ). All isolated compounds were subjected to cytotoxicity and antiproliferative assays against a panel of the four cell lines:DU-145, U-2 OS, U-87 MG and LN-229 cell lines and was determined using MTT assay, Annexin V and propodium iodide was used to evaluate apoptosis. Results: The phytochemical study of H. albus Fractions led to the isolation of quercetin-3-O-β-dglucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranosid, N-trans-feruloyltyramine, Hydrocaffeoyl-N8caffeoylspermidine.The biological results indicated that all cell lines were consistently sensitive to P1 FC in a dose-dependent manner. This difference in cytotoxic sensitivity was more pronounced in osteosarcoma cell line, U-2 OS when compared to prostate cancer and U-87 MG. Cell viability data also demonstrated that only U-87 MG cells were responsive to treatment with Ph FF. compounds P1 FC and Ph FF have induced necrosis and apoptosis in large part of LN-229 cells. Conclusion: The overall results of the present study provided evidence that isolated compounds are potential therapeutic entities against cancer.

Abstract. Benhouda A, Benhouda D, Yahia M. 2019. In vivo evaluation of anticryptosporidiosis activity of the methanolic extract of the plant Umbilicus rupestris. Biodiversitas 20: 3478-3483. Umbilicus rupestris (Crassulaceae) is a medicinal plant used in general traditional medicine to cure inflammation and irritation of the skin. The present research is aimed to evaluate the antiparasitic activity of the methanolic extract of the plant URMeOH of U. rupestris against the Cryptosporidium infection in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed rats experimentally infected. Twenty-one female rats were divided into two groups. Control group (group I) and experimental group (Group II). The group I was further divided into three equal groups (normal group infected and immunosuppressed infected group). The experimental group was divided into two immunosuppressed and four equal groups and two immunocompetent infected. Cryptosporidium oocysts were isolated from bovine species stools and used to infect rats. Experimental subgroups received URMeOH two as dose 100mg/kg b.w. and 200 mg/kg b.w. and continued until 15 days. Two weeks after the administration of URMeOH, feces of rats were examined for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts by Ziehl-Neelsen and immunofluorescence techniques, the animals were sacrificed; their small intestines were processed and examined for the detection of pathological lesions after histopathological study. In addition, the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured in sections of the jejunum. Concerned the results, we observed a statistically significant (P<0.001) increase in the number of oocysts of Cryptosporidium in the stool for sub infected immunosuppressed groups and an increase of MPO activity compared to the corresponding subgroups immunocompetent subgroups. The URMeOH could remove Cryptosporidium oocysts from feces and intestinal sections subgroup infected immunocompetent rats receiving URMeOH. Moreover, the oocysts were significantly reduced in all other subgroups experimental infected compared to infected control subgroups. Intestinal sections in all subgroups received URMeOH revealed a more or less normal architecture. In addition, the reduction of MPO activity level was also detected in all experimental subgroups.