The aim of this study is to evaluate in vitro antioxidant activities of Ruta montana L.  extracts. This activity was evaluated by three methods : DPPH (2, 2'-diphenyl- 1- picrylhydrazy), bleaching of β-carotene and chelation of ferrous iron. Results showed that ethyl acetate extract (EAE) represents the highest amount of total polyphenols, tannins and flavonoids with 257,1 ± 0,703µg gallic acid equivalent/mg of extract,  251 ± 1.41 µg tannic acid equivalent /mg of extract,117,4 ± 3,451 µg quercetin equivalents/mg of extract, 139,5 ± 4,107 µg rutin equivalents/mg of extract, respectively. In the DPPH assay, ethyl acetate extract showed the higher scavenging capacity (IC50 = 0.044 ± 0.001 mg/ml) followed by methanol, aqueous and chloroform extract. Whereas, AqE showed the best chelating effect and the best inhibitory capacity of the coupled oxidation of linoleic acid/ β-carotene. Keywords: Ruta montana L; polyphenols; antioxidant activity; free radical scavenging.

The objective of this study was to evaluate different biological activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts from Thymelaea microphylla. Antioxidant capacity was determined using two methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation using the β-carotene/linoleate model system. Disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity on four different strains. Hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract was tested in rats. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed a good antioxidant activity with IC50 of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/ml in DPPH test, and RRA% of 46.40% and 77.86% in β-carotene/linoleate assay respectively. Both extracts had no antibacterial effect on studied strains. A single administration of aqueous extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg bodyweight caused a very significant decrease in blood glucose level in rat. Keywords: Antibacterial activity, β-carotene/linoleate, DPPH, Hypoglycemic activity, Thymelaea microphylla Please cite this paper as: Dahamna S, Dehimi K, Merghem M, et al. Antioxidant, antibacterial and hypoglycemic activity of extracts from Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the acute and sub-acute toxicity of Algerian Peganum harmala L. seeds (Zygophyllaceae). For the acute toxicity assessment, oral administration of P. harmala crud extract to mice in single doses of 0-12 g/kg caused dose-dependent general behavior adverse effects and mortality with LD50 of 2,86 g/kg. In the sub-acute study, daily oral administration of the crude aqueous extract for 28 consecutive days did not result no mortality. However, our results showed a significant difference in organs weights between control and treated animals. In the biochemical analysis, significant changes occurred in Bilirubin, uric acid (UA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the treated animals when compared to the control ones. Hematological analysis showed differences in WBC count and Hemoglobin estimation. However, urinalysis was negative for all parameters except Glucose in the treated group. Pathologically, a few gross abnormalities and histological changes were observed in hepatic and nephritic tissues. Keywords: Peganum harmala L., Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity, Hematological parameters, Biochemical parameters

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Phototherapy has known a great evolution all the world and some medicinal plants are importance remedies of some diseases. Centaurium erythraea is one of the medicinal plants widely used in this field. In this study, we have evaluated the total polyphenolic and the flavonoid contents of the methanolic (ME) and aqueous (AqE) extracts of the plant Centaurium erythraea as well as its antioxidant activity using the DPPH (2'2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl), β-carotene /linoleic acid bleaching and reducing power assays. The total polyphenolic content of the methanolic extract was 35,45± 0,041 μg AGE/mg extract and flavonoids was 6,65 ± 0,060 μg QE/mg. The total polyphenolic content of the aqueous extract was 54,27 ± 0,023 μg AGE/mg extract and flavonoids was 3,275 ± 0,003 μg QE/mg. The results of the DPPH test showed a powerful antioxidant activity with a very similar IC50 for the methanolic (IC50=0.232 ± 0.002mg/ml) and aqueous (0.208 ± 0.002mg/ml) extracts. The inhibitory activity of the tow extracts in the β-carotene/linoleic acid assay was (86.781 ± 0.17%) for the methanolic extract and (77.816 ± 0.69%) for the aqueous extract. ME has the higher reducing power (IC50 = 0.35 ± 0.066 mg / ml) compared to the AqE (IC50 = 1.31 ± 0.047 mg / ml). Keywords: Centaurium erythraea, antioxidant activity, polyphenols, DPPH scavenging, β-carotene, reducing power.

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Thymelaea hirsuta  is a medicinal plant, belonging to the genus Thymelaea (Thymelaeaceae) widely used in Mediterranean countries especially in Algeria. In this study, we have evaluated the total polyphenols and flavonoids contents of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Leaves and flowers of Thymelaea hirsuta as well as its antioxidant activity using the DPPH (2'2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) and β-carotene /linoleic acid bleaching assays. The yield of the methanolic and aqueous extract was 11, 55% and 13, 25% respectively. The total polyphenols content of the methanolic extract was 295, 22 µg GAE/ mg extract and flavonoids was 09, 40 µg QE/mg and 26, 42 µg RE/ mg extract. The total polyphenols content of the aqueous extract was 57, 95 µg GAE/ mg extract and flavonoids was 4.59 µg QE/ mg and 10.66 µg RE/ mg extract. In the DPPH assay, methanolic extract showed the higher scavenging capacity (IC50 = 0.03 ± 0.004 mg/ml), followed by aqueous extract with IC50 of 0.275 ± 0.019 mg/ml. In the test of β-carotene /linoleic acid, the percentage of inhibition was 39.1±1.33% for the aqueous extract and 41.05±2.72% for methanolic extract. Keywords: Thymelaea hirsuta, antioxidant activity, polyphenols, DPPH scavenging, β-carotene.

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