Background: Honey has multiple therapeutic properties due to its composition with diverse components.Objectives: This study aims to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of Saharan honeys against bacterial pathogens, the variation of honey floral origins, and its physicochemical characteristics.Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial activity of 32 samples of honey collected from the Algerian Sahara Desert was tested on four bacteria; Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The botanical origin of honeys and their physicochemical properties were determined and their combined antibacterial effects were modeled using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM).Results: Out of the 32 study samples, 14 were monofloral and 18 were multifloral. The pollen density was on average 7.86 × 106 grains/10 g of honey, water content was 14.6%, electrical conductivity (EC) was 0.5 μS/cm, pH was 4.38 ± 0 50, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content was 82 mg/kg of honey, total sugars = 83%, reducing sugars = 71%, and the concentration of proline = 525.5 ± 550.2 mg/kg of honey. GLMM revealed that the antibacterial effect of honey varied significantly between bacteria and floral origins. This effect increased with increasing of water content and reducing sugars in honey, but it significantly decreased with increase of honey EC. E. coli was the most sensitive species with an inhibition zone of 10.1 ± 4.7 mm, while C. perfringens was the less sensitive. Honeys dominated by pollen of Fabaceae sp. were most effective with an overall antimicrobial activity equals to 13.5 ± 4.7 mm.Conclusion: Saharan honeys, of certain botanical origins, have physicochemical and pollinic characteristics with relevant potential for antibacterial purposes. This encourages a more comprehensive characterization of honeys with in vivo and in vitro investigations.

This study aims to evaluate the chemical composition and biological effects of an endemic Algerian species Myrtus nivellei belonging to the Myrtaceae family. The aerial parts of the plant were submitted to hydrodistillation and analysed with gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This oil was yielded 0,75% (w/w). The GC-MS revealed that 1,8 cineole is the most abundant component (53,44%) while other compounds were present in high contents: 2,2,6,7-tetramethyl-10-oxatricyclo [4.3.0.1(1,7)]- decan-5-one (11,73%), trans ocimene (7,54%), linalyl propirionate (6,81%) and lavandulyl acetate (5,24%). In addition ethanolic extract of studied plant was prepared. Total phenol, tannin, flavonoid, and condensed tannin?s contents were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride and vanillin colorimetric methods, respectively. Three tests were used for the investigation of antioxidant activity of both extract and oil. Strong antioxidant activity was shown mainly by crude extract. Antibacterial screening was evaluated against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Ethanolic extract and oil were active especially against Staphylococcus aureus.

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An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to collect information from traditional healers on the use of plants (Atriplex halimus L., Searsia tripartita (Ucria) Moffett, Limoniastrum guyonianum Durieu ex Boiss., Haplophyllum tuberculatum Juss., Tamarix gallica L. and Nitraria retusa (Forssk.) Asch.) in folkloric medicine of Ouargla (Algeria), using a predesigned questionnaire. The studied plants were screened for the presence of secondary metabolites. The traditional healers in the study area used the investigated species for the treatment of various diseases. The average of the informant consensus factor (F IC ) value for all ailment categories was 0.93, with the highest number of species being used for digestive problems (449) followed by dermatological symptoms (154) and nervous disorders (144). These pathologies were mainly treated by leaves in the form of decoction, representing the dominant formulation. The oral administration which regrouped the major form of usage, which was in form of drink, was most exercised. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of polyphenolic compounds and saponins in almost all tested plants. For the other metabolites classes, results varied between plants. The multi-uses of species demonstrated the importance of these plants and the diversity of the ancestral knowledge.

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