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In an aim to prove the efficiency of polyphenols of Rosa canina fruits in promoting human health. A methanolic extract of R. canina fruits was prepared by successive maceration with solvents of increasing polarity. The polyphenol composition was analyzed by HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS. The biological activity of this extract on SH‐SY5Y cells and HepG2 cells was then studied. The antioxidant activity was tested by various in vitro tests such as DPPH‐radical‐scavenging activity, FRAP assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and total antioxidant capacity. The subacute toxicity of R. canina was tested on female rats by repeated intraperitoneal administration of various doses. The phenolic profiles showed 25 antioxidants distributed into three classes of phenolic compounds: glycosylated and agglomerated flavonoids/isoflavonoids, tannins and phenanthrenes. Qualitative phytochemical analyses showed that this extract lacks alkaloids. The methanolic extract of R. canina fruits has a total antioxidant capacity of 82.69 ± 1.18 μg EAA/mg of methanol extract and the IC50 of the methods used is in the following increasing order: FRAP assay (61.88 μg/ml), then hydroxyl radical scavenging assay (67.45 μg/ml) and then DPPH radical‐scavenging activity (129.81 μg/ml). The extract of R. canina did not cause any phenotypic signs of toxicity or mortality during and after treatment. The LD50 was >5,000 mg/kg, hence, R. canina was considered nontoxic. An in vivo study proved the protective effect of R. canina against cardiac and hepato‐renal toxicities. These results drew the importance of a healthy diet, where diets rich in R. canina fruits can be used as a rich natural source of antioxidants and anticarcinogenic phenolic compounds.

In order to shed light on the insect part involved in the forest decline associated with Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Carriere.), an etiological study was carried out on eight representative stations in the Aures mountains located in Eastern Algeria. 1,728 woodlogs was prospected, representing three levels of tree's health status (healthy, decaying, and moribund) and four heights (base, medium, crown, and branches) over three years (2010, 2013 and 2016). From this large-scale investigation, it was found that beetles caused the most important damages on Atlas cedar trees, 22 species of which belong mainly to the Scolytidae (Cryphalus numidicus, Scolytus numidicus, Crypturgus cedri, Phloeosinus cedri, and Hylastes batnensis); the Buprestidae (Melanophila marmottani and Anthaxia martini) as well as the xylomycophage Ciidae (Cis corioli) were found to be the most significant decline agents who impacted most of the phytosanitary status of Cedrus atlantica. The thorough examination of the infestation level and the manner of how these insects affected each stage of decline (taking into account the various specimens collected at different high levels) showed an intra and inter-specific heterogeneity, as well as a succession of the xylophagous entomofauna when comparing various stations.

Introduction. Medicinal plants are considered an inexhaustible source of bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds. Rosa canina L. (Rosaceae) known as Thebgha in Eastern Algeria, is widely used in traditional medicine, and nutrition. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic fruit extract from the medicinal plant R.canina. Material and methods. This study on R.canina focused on phytochemical screening. Determination of total phenolic compounds content by the fast blue BB test (FBBB), and evaluation of in vitro anti-inflammatory power by colorimetric methods relating to the denaturation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and egg albumin were essayed. Results. The methanolic extract was prepared by the use of solvents with increasing polarity. The extract of R.canina fruits was rich in polyphenols. Concerning the anti-denaturation activity, the methanolic extract showed a high percentage of BSA inhibition of 89.34%, and egg albumin of 93.41% at the highest concentration. Thus, our results indicated that the extract had a significantly good anti-denaturation activity, compared to diclofenac. Conclusion. Our study show clearly that the methanolic extract of the R. canina fruits has a significant anti-denaturing property.

Citrullus colocynthis L. of the Cucurbitaecea botanical family is a plant widely used in traditional medicine in Algeria. It seems empirically effective in the treatment of various diseases. The aim of the present research is to evaluate the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects, in vitro, of the ethanolic extract of C. colocynthis fruits. The quantitative analysis has shown that the ethanolic extract of C. colocynthis is rich in total polyphenols with a content of 443.62 ± 2.13 µg EAG/mg of extract. The results obtained showed a strong anti-free radical activity of the ethanolic extract of C.colocynthis exerted against the DPPH free radical scavenging effect (CI50 = 6.31 µg/ml) and highlighted a powerful ferric reducing antioxidant power (CI50 = 27.94 µg/ml). We should also note a good antioxidant activity against the OH radical, obtained with the concentration (IC50 = 67.13 µg/ml). Furthermore, the obtained results indicate that the treatment of the three cancer cell lines (HepG2, SH-SY5Y and Raw 264.7) with the different concentrations of the used extract reduced the number of cells in a dose-dependent way. Based on our results, we can consider that Citrullus colocynthis is a plant with a strong pharmacological power and can therefore be used in phytotherapy.