Opuntia ficus indica and Pistacia lentiscus L. seeds are used in traditional medicine. The objective of this study was to investigate the toxicity of the fixed oil of Opuntia ficus indica and Pistacia lentiscus L. seeds in mice through determination of LD 50 values, and also the physicochemical characteristics of the fixed oil of these oils. The acute toxicity of their fixed oil were also investigated in mice using the method of Kabba and Berhens. The fixed oil of Pistacia lentiscus and Opuntia ficus indica seeds were extracted and analyzed for its chemical and physical properties such as acid value, free fatty acid percentage (% FFA), iodine index, and saponification value as well as refractive index and density. LD 50 values obtained by single doses, orally and intraperitoneally administered in mice, were respectively 43 ± 0,8 ;[40.7-45.4 ] ml/kg body wt. p.o. and 2.72 ± 0,1 ;[2.52-2.92] ml/kg body wt. i.p. for Opuntia ficus indica ; and 37 ± 1 ; [34.4 -39.8 ] ml/kg body wt. p.o. and 2.52 ± 0,2 ;[2.22 -2.81 ] ml/kg body wt. i.p. for Pistacia lentiscus respectively. The yields of seed oil were respectively calculated as 20.25% and 10.41%. The acid and free fatty acid values indicated that the oil has a low acidity

Background and Aim: Lack of information about the antibiotic resistance in commensal Escherichia coli from Algerian livestock prompted us to do this study to determine the different levels of antimicrobial susceptibility, antibiotic multidrug resistance (MDR) rates, and phenotypical patterns of E. coli strains isolated from healthy cattle to control the spread of animal-resistant strains to humans and the environment. Materials and Methods: A total of 198 cattle were sampled (swabbed in the rectum), reared in the farms of Souk Ahras, Tebessa, and Oum el Bouaghi governorates of Eastern Algeria. Isolation of E. coli strains was performed on MacConkey agar and then the different strains were identified to the species level using an API 20E identification kit. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using a panel of 13 antibiotic disks by disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. The double-disk synergy test with cefotaxime and amoxicillin-clavulanate disks was used for the screening of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase phenotypes. For colistin susceptibility, the minimum inhibitory concentration was examined using broth microdilutions technique. Results: The results showed that among the 198 E. coli isolates, elevated resistance rates were observed for ampicillin (59.09%) and tetracycline (43.43%), and moderate resistance rates for cephalothin (16.16%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (15.15%), and amoxicillin/clavulanate (11.62%); however, low resistance rates were found for nalidixic acid (8.08%), ciprofloxacin (7.07%), kanamycin (6.56%), cefotaxime (4.54%), chloramphenicol (4.04%), nitrofurantoin (2.52%), cefoxitin (2.02%), gentamycin (1.01%), and no resistance to colistin. However, nine extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing E. coli strains were identified. Forty-four different patterns were determined, indicating a wide variety of resistance, ranging from one antimicrobial to a combination of 10. Analysis of coresistances revealed that 63 isolates (31.82%) were susceptible to all antibiotics used in the study, 42 isolates (21.21%) were resistant to one antibiotic, 43 isolates (21.72%) were resistant to two antibiotics, 24 isolates (12.12%) resistant to three antibiotics, 26 isolates (13.13%) were resistant for more than three agents, and 45 isolates (22.73%) were MDR (which means resistant to three or more families of antibiotics). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that commensal E. coli remains a potential source of antibiotic resistance in view of the high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. The vast range of MDR phenotypes, especially extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing strains, emphasizes the urgent requirement to adopt measures to control the use of antimicrobials, in particular, by private veterinarians, as well as the strengthening of veterinary surveillance networks for antimicrobial resistance to control the spread of MDR bacteria from animals to humans and the environment.

Introduction. The alcohol extract of Pellitory (Anacyclus pyrethrum) roots has been previously shown to exert anticancer activities on the Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Line (HCT) by targeting apoptosis, metastasis and cell cycle arrest. However, the nature of the cytotoxic molecules associated with this activity remains unexplored. Aims. This study aims to reinvestigate Pellitory root extract as regard to its cytotoxic activity and to proceed to a bioguided fractionation to explore its active fraction and to give new insight in their phytochemical constituents. Methods. Powdered roots were subjected to repeated extraction with Petroleum ether (Pe), Chloroform (Ch), Ethyl acetate (Ea) and Methanol (Me). Pellitory extracts were then screened for cytotoxic activity using the Brine Shrimp Lethality (BSL) bioassay. Results. Ea extract exhibited a marked cytotoxic activity, with LC50 of 249.26 μg/mL in the BSL bioassay. The remaining extracts (Pe,Ch,Me) treated groups exhibited no or low mortality in the range of tested concentrations (1-1000 µg/mL). BSL assay-guided chromatographic fractionation of Ea active Extract revealed a highly cytotoxic fraction (F11) with LC50 of 42.5 µg/mL. Multistep purifications of the active F11 fraction afforded four alkamides, namely N-isobutyldeca-2,4-dienamide or Pellitorine (I), N-propyldodeca- -2,8-dienamide (II), N-isobutyltetradeca-2,4-dienamide (III) and N-propylnona-2,5- -dienamide (IV). Conclusions. This study suggests that cytotoxic activity is localized mainly in the ethyl acetate extract (Ea) of pellitory roots. BSL assay fractionation of this active extract leads to the isolation of four alkamides, including pellitorine (I). While this isobutyl alkamide has previously shown strong cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines, the other compounds (II to IV) were not previously reported as cytotoxic. Subsequently, the isolated alkamides will be considered in future study as candidates for in depth in-vitro evaluation of their cytotoxicity against cancer and normal cell lines. Finally, through this study, BSL assay demonstrate again its usefulness as bench-top assay in exploring plant extracts for cytotoxic compounds.

An investigation was carried out to assess the real situation of veterinary pharmacovigilance, as well as the role and/or involvement of this medico-legal system in the surveillance and control of the use of veterinary medicines. A total of 150 veterinary doctors were surveyed to obtain information on the subject, our study revealed that the prescription of antibacterials with 85.5%, antiparasitic drugs with 75% and vaccination, immunological products 70.1%; Also showed an average consumption of other drug families, including drugs for the respiratory system with 66.7%, production drugs and vitamins 66.7% and digestive drugs with a prescription rate is 58.3%; Further a 62.5% of reports were made by veterinary practitioners, who are considered to be the main actors of the pharmacovigilance system in the region, with owners and farmers actively contributing to the functioning of the system with a reporting rate of 33.3. Findings show a several initiatives and actions have been taken, such as continuing training for veterinarians 41.7% through training courses and participation in seminars, initial training for veterinary students 37.5% in schools and university training institutes, the establishment and activation of committees for specific expertise in veterinary drug 37.5%, press releases 25%, through actions aimed at marketing authorization holders 20.8% and industrial subsidiaries of veterinary medicinal products, these results remain non-exhaustive but contribute strongly to determine the status of pharmacovigilance in the veterinary field and the region of study.

Currently, the use of alternative medicine is necessary, even in animals. Our study focused on the valorisation of the use of herbal products in Algerian veterinary medicine. This study is based on a 6-month exploratory survey of 257 private practicing veterinarians, followed by a study of the bacteriological activity of the essential oil of the Pistacia lentiscus plant. The survey results generally  indicate that private veterinarians support phytotherapy as an alternative to conventional drugs in several areas and species. Also, the results of research conducted on the antibacterial activity of Pistacia lentiscus essential oil show that it inactivates 50% of the bacterial strains. This confirms the well defined role of this medicinal plant used as an alternative in veterinary medicine.