The gastroprotective effects of 70% acetone extracts of Quercus suber and Quercus coccifera leaves and of tannins (pedunculagin, castalagin, phillyraeoidin A, and acutissimin B) purified from these extracts were examined in the mouse using the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Both extracts (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), given orally, prevented the formation of ethanol-induced lesions in the stomach. The percent protection varied between 68 and 91%. Purified tannins (50 mg/kg) were also effective in protecting the stomach against ethanol, and the percent protection varied from 66 to 83%. Castalagin was the most potent. Both extracts and all of the tannins tested (10, 25, and 50 microg/mL) strongly inhibited (55-65%) the lipid peroxidation of rabbit brain homogenate. These results suggest that the gastroprotective effects of extracts of Q. suber and Q. coccifera leaves and the purified tannins in this experimental model are related to their anti-lipoperoxidant properties.

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Free radicals or highly reactive oxygen species are capable of inducing oxidative damage to the human body Plants containing phenolic compounds have potent antioxidant capacity. The present study was undertaken to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activities of Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae), a plant widely used as natural remedy for digestive disorders in folk medicine. Total polyphenol contents were determined using Folin Ciocalteu's reagent; flavonoids were quantified employing the AlCl3 Method. EAE extract showed the highest polyphenolic and flavonoids contents (358.37±2.28 GAE/g of dry extract and 105.44±3.48 QE/g of dry extract) respectively. The EAE had the highest antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. EAE and ME extracts exhibited the highest reducing power. EAE possess an IC50 close to BHT (0.074 mg/ml) as reference drug All extracts exhibited antioxidant activity in the linoleic acid emulsion system (76.81% -86.93 %). EAE showed an inhibition ratio of (86.93 %) close to that of BHT (94.9±1.52 %). These findings provide evidence that Myrtus communis L. berries are a potential source of antioxidant which have many benefits towards human health.

Ocimum basilicum L. (O. basilicum L.) with the vernacular name of Reihan or Reyhan is a medicinal plant from the Lamiaceae family, widely used in traditional Algerian medicine. The aim of the present study was to research the traditional uses and the mode of application of O. basilicum L. in the M’sila region (northern Algeria), to estimate the content of polyphenols and flavonoids in methanolic and aqueous extracts of this plant and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of these extracts by the 2, 2’-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH). The results of ethnopharmacological survey showed that decoction of leaves in fresh or dry form is the most frequent use. The yields of extracts were 28.67% and 15.24% for the methanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of different compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and essential oils. The results demonstrated that the methanolic extract presented a high polyphenols and flavonoids contents with 225.99 ± 3.13 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry extract and 83.63 ± 3.48 mg quercetin equivalent/g dry extract, respectively. The evaluation of the antioxidant power is carried out using the method of trapping of the free radical DPPH, with BHT as reference antioxidant. The results showed that the methanolic extract has a significant free radical scavenging capacity with an IC50 value of 304.82 ± 24.15 µg/ml; which was greater than the trapping capacity of BHT (IC50 = 327.46 ± 13.11 µg/ml). Whereas, the aqueous extract has a weaker effect with an IC50 value of 2122.81 ± 107.77 µg/ml. Keywords: BHT, DPPH, flavonoids, Ocimum basilicum L., polyphenols.

Phytotherapy has known a great evolution all the world and some medicinal plants are important remedies of some diseases. Ammoides atlantica is one of the medicinal plants used in folk medicine. This study aims to estimate the total phenolics and flavonoids contents then to investigate both in vitro antioxidant activity models of aqueous extract (AqE) from Ammoides atlantica. Total polyphenol contents were determined using Folin Ciocalteu's reagent; flavonoids were quantified employing the AlCl3 Method. The in vitro antioxidant property was assessed by DPPH-scavenging radicals and lipid peroxidation assays. The results revealed that Ammoides atlantica aqueous extract presented a high total phenolic and flavonoid contents with values of 85.56±4.71 µg GAE (gallic acid equivalent)/mg and 40.55±4.09 µg QE (quercitin equivalent)/mg dry extract, respectively. This extract shows a good DPPH radical scavenging and β-carotene bleaching activities with an IC50 of 107.48±5.9 µg/mL and 130.17±5.52 µg/mL, respectively. This study indicates that the aqueous extract from Ammoides atlantica has potent antioxidant effects and may prove to be of latent health benefit as well as supplementary sources for natural antioxidants drugs. Keywords: Ammoides atlantica, aqueous extract, antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds.

Artemisia absinthium L. is a medicinal plant largely used in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to estimate the content of polyphenols, and flavonoids compounds and also to evaluate the antioxidant and the anti-ulcer activities of the Aqueous extract from Artemisia absinthium L. aerial parts. The Folin-Ciocalteau and AlCl3 methods were applied in order to quantify the polyphenolic and flavonoids contents, respectively. However, DPPH   method was used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity. Quantitative analysis of the yield and phenolic content of the aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium showed that the yield of the aqueous extract was 19.32% and its phenolic content was 58.66 ± 2.16 μg GAE / mg dry extract for polyphenols and 6.85 μg QE / mg dry extract for the flavonoids. The antioxidant activity of the plant extract evaluated by the DPPH test is very important (IC50=45.48±0.37 µg/ml). Treatment of mice with the aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium at a dose of 400 mg / kg significantly reduced the ulcerogenic effect of ethanol on the gastric wall with an estimated protection rate of 91%. These findings suggest that Artemisia absinthium L.  aqueous extract possessed good antiulcer and antioxidant potentials. This supports the traditional claims of this plant in folklore medicine. Keywords: Artemisia absinthium, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, gastric ulcer, ethanol.

The plants of the genus Phlomis are native to Turkey, North Africa, Europe and Asia.  Phlomis bovei De Noé (Lamiaceae) is a rare Algerian endemic plant, commonly known as Kayat El Adjarah. The objective of this study is to quantify the polyphenol content and to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract (EthE) of Phlomis bovei De Noé. The plant extract was prepared by macerating 100 g of ground material in 1000 ml of 85 % ethanol for 72 h, then the filtrate was evaporated using a rotary evaporator at a temperature of 45C and the filtrate was dried. The total content in polyphenols was determined using Folin Ciocalteu method. Flavonoid content in extracts was determined using Aluminum trichloride assay and the total content of tannins was determined according to Bate Smith method. The antioxidant activity was investigated in vitro by the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl), ABTS and iron chelating assays. The results indicate that the ethanol extract was rich in polyphenols and has an important capacity of scavenging the DPPH and ABTS free radical with an IC50 of 0.05 and 0.018 mg/ml, respectively. However, in the ferrous ions chelating ability test, PBEE extract showed moderate chelating activity (IC50 = 1.59 ± 0.05 mg/ml). To conclude, the obtained results may contribute to add possible scientific data to use Phlomis bovei industrially as herbal medicine and as supplementary sources for natural antioxidant drugs in food. Keywords: antioxidant activity, ethanol extract, Phlomis bovei De Noé, polyphenol content.