Natural flavonoids such as quercetin, (+)catechin and rutin as well as four methoxylated derivatives of quercetin used as models were investigated to elucidate their impact on the oxidant and antioxidant status of human red blood cells (RBCs). The impact of these compounds against metal toxicity was studied as well as their antiradical activities with DPPH assay. Antihemolytic experiments were conducted on quercetin, (+)catechin and rutin with excess of Fe, Cu and Zn (400 μM), and the oxidant (malondialdehyde, carbonyl proteins) and antioxidant (reduced glutathione, catalase activity) markers were evaluated. The results showed that Fe and Zn have the highest prooxidant effect (37 and 33% of hemolysis, respectively). Quercetin, rutin and (+)catechin exhibited strong antioxidant properties toward Fe, but this effect was decreased with respect to Zn ions. However, the Cu showed a weak antioxidant effect at the highest flavonoid concentration (200 μM), while a prooxidant effect was observed at the lowest flavonoid concentration (100 μM). These results are in agreement with the physico-chemical and antiradical data which demonstrated that binding of the metal ions (for FeNTA: (+)Catechin, KLFeNTA = 1.6(1) × 106 M-1 > Rutin, KLFeNTA = 2.0(9) × 105 M-1 > Quercetin, KLFeNTA = 1.0(7) × 105 M-1 > Q35OH, KLFeNTA = 6.3(8.7) × 104 M-1 > Quercetin3’4’OH and Quercetin 3OH, KLFeNTA ~ 2 × 104 M-1) reflects the (anti)oxidant status of the RBCs. This study reveals that flavonoids have both prooxidant and antioxidant activity depending on the nature and concentration of the flavonoids and metal ions.

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Background and aims: Quercetin, is a polyphenolic antioxidant compound. It is able to form complex with metal ions such as iron and exerts a broad range of biological activities like improving metabolic disorders. This research aims at investigating the effect of oral supplementation of iron (2.5mg Fe/Kg/day) and its complex form (molar ratio 1:5; 2.5mg/25mg/Kg/day) with quercetin (25mg/Kg/day) on lipid metabolism, oxidant status and trace elements contents in organs of Wistar diabetic rats (45 mg/kg/rat.ip of streptozotocin) during eight weeks of experimentation. Material and method: To achieve this, liver and adipose tissue enzymes activities, NO•, O2−•, TBARs, carbonyl protein levels in plasma were analysed. Metals (Cu, Fe, Mg, Zn) analysis of organs were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Results: Iron supplemented alone induced a noticeable disorder in lipid, lipoprotein, lipases and oxidant status. Yet, it caused an imbalance in the redistribution of metals in the organs of diabetic and non diabetic rats. Iron-quercetin complex was shown as less harmful and more beneficial than iron supplemented alone. Conclusions: This complex could reverse oxidative stress and iron deficiency mostly caused by the diabetic disease but at the same time it induces an imbalance in redistribution of other essential metals.

The present study’s objective was to evaluate the impact of Bunium incrassatum roots’ powder (Talghouda) as a dietary supplement on the evolution of biological, biochemical, and histological parameters in female Wistar rats. The animals were divided into two groups and given an orally standard diet supplemented with 15% of Bunium incrassatum roots powder, daily for 15 days. The obtained results showed that the roots of Bunium incrassatum induced an increase in the body and organs weight of Diet rats compared to the control, as well as effects on the biochemical parameters, characterized mainly by a significant increase in the glycaemia (+44.44%), triglyceride (+56.81%), cholesterol (+11.90%), LDL (+4.08%) and HDL (+11.53%)and a decrease in creatinine (-3.65%), TGO (-6.92%) and TGP (-58.73%). In the histological study of organs, the thyroid of diet rats revealed large thyroid follicles, the colloid of the follicles was more or less developed compared to the control rats. Through the obtained results, it can be concluded that a standard diet supplemented with 15% of Bunium incrassatum roots powder may have a positive effect on biological, biochemical, and histological parameters

Fresh vegetables are frequently used to prepare fresh salad dishes widely consumed in the world. They are known to be the main source of pathogenic intestinal parasites. In this context, the present work aimed to (a) detect the pathogenic intestinal parasites (PIP) in washed fresh vegetables, and (b) assess the exposure to PIP in the city of Ain Témouchent (Algeria). In fact, 26 samples belonging to six groups of fresh vegetables (cabbages, lettuces, leeks, radishes, peppers and tomatoes) were collected, washed (similarly to domestic wash with or without vinegar addition), then examined for PIP contamination. The results indicated that 90% of the examined vegetable samples were contaminated with intestinal parasites showing higher prevalence in lettuce (70.85%) while the lowest contamination (23.52%) was reported in pepper. In addition, Cryptosperidium (72%) has been found to be the most dominant parasite in all vegetables while Toxocara (8%) was less present. These finding are a preliminary report to conduct a risk assessment of PIP linked to vegetable feeding