Fatima Lamchouri

• Professor
• Head of Department at Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah of Fez.

In the context of the valorisation of edible mushrooms from the province of Taza, Morocco, the present study, carried out for the first time, aims to evaluate the mineral composition, phenolic content, antibacterial activity and self-preservation potential of wild Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. from Taza. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission...

Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. is an edible mushroom highly valued by consumers worldwide for its nutritional and therapeutic qualities. In the absence of studies on this mushroom in Morocco, this study aims to evaluate its ethnomedicinal use and its socio-economic impact on the local population. Therefore, an ethnomedicinal and socio-economic surv...

Harmine is a naturally occurring heterocyclic compound belonging to the β-carboline alkaloid class, found in various plants, some animals, insects, and marine organisms. Harmine and its derivatives possess significant pharmacological activities, particularly anticancer properties, making them promising candidates for cancer therapy. Despite its eff...

Context: The dye-sensitized solar cell is a technology unique in its light conversion properties as it operates with record efficiencies in diffused light conditions. The choice of the appropriate sensitizer is one of the important strategies to improve photovoltaic performance of DSSC devices. This theoretical study mainly aims to determine the i...

In this work, six molecules M1-M6, with the donor—π-spacer—acceptor structure, based on triphenylamine have been purposely studied to be applied in π-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We explore the effect of different electron-withdrawing substituents on the optoelectronic, structural, and photovoltaic dye properties. The key parameters of...

In this study, we are interested to the effect of the variation in donor groups (D) mainly carbazole, triphenylamine, diethylaniline and phenothiazine, on a series of organic compounds, using Density-Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent Becke–Half and Half–Lee–Yang–Parr's (TD-BHandHLYP). The aim is to elucidate the different geometrical and o...

The present study was conducted on the extracts from the aerial part of Haloxylon scoparium Pomel. The current research has focused on the evaluation of the antimitotic activity with the Lepidium sativum phytotest on aqueous (decocted, infused, macerated) and organic extracts (methanolic extract, methanolic macerated, ethyl acetate extract, chlorof...

Background. Chamaerops humilis L. var. argentea Andre is a plant widely spread in the region of Taza (North-East of Morocco); it is used in traditional phytotherapy against cancer, diabetes, inflammations, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and for the treatment of digestive disorders. Objective and Methods. The objective of our work is to co...

Introduction: The present study is carried out for the first time on Chamaerops humilis L. var. argentea Andre from the region of Taza using an ethnopharmacological survey, an experimental study of the mineralogical and chemical compositions, and evaluations of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Methods: After conducting the ethnophar...

Experimental and computational studies were performed to determine the antioxidant activities of harmine, harmaline, harmalol, harmane, and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroharmane-3-carboxylic acid. The in vitro study was conducted using H2O2, ABTS, FRAP and PR tests. The theoretical study was performed using density functional theory (DFT), molecular docking, a...

Human phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 1 (hPEBP1) is a novel target affecting many cellular signaling pathways involved in the formation of metastases. It can be used in the treatment of many cases of cancer. For these reasons, pharmaceutical companies use computational approaches, including multi-QSAR (2D, 3D, and hologram QSAR) analysis,...

The importance of the Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation approach lies in their ability to provide a highly accurate prediction of structural and optoelectronic properties. However, the traditional methods of DFT failed to predict optoelectronic properties satisfactorily. Therefore, it will be necessary to examine methods containing differ...

In the context of plant conservation and sustainable use of unique neglected and underutilized phytogenetic resources, this study focused on the Tunisian local endemic Teucrium luteum subsp. gabesianum (Lamiaceae). Using Geographical Information Systems and online databases, detailed taxon-specific ecological profiling was produced for the first ti...

Peganum harmala L. is well known as a traditional therapy in Morocco. The objective of this study was to determine the mineral composition for the first time, the chemical profile and the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Peganum harmala L. seeds. The aqueous extracts were prepared by three modalities: decoction, infusion and maceration,...

In the frame of conservation and sustainable utilization of neglected and underutilized phytogenetic resources, this study produced for the first time a detailed ecological profiling for the local Tunisian endemic Marrubium ascheronii (Lamiaceae) using Geographical Information Systems and open-source data. This profile was used to illustrate the ab...

The inhibitory activity of cell growth and the acute toxicity of aqueous extracts (decocted, infused, and macerated) and organic extracts obtained with different solvents were evaluated for a medicinal plant widely used in Moroccan traditional medicine: Ajuga iva subsp. Pseudoiva (DC.) Briq collected in the region of Taza in Morocco. The inhibitory...

Medicinal-aromatic plants (MAPs) are important sources for the development of new valuable products of interest to human and animal health, and are also used as ornamentals for the horticulture industry. However, the increased global demand and the uncontrolled exploitation of these plants constitute a threat to their sustainability. To date, few s...

In the frame of the sustainable use of neglected and underutilized phytogenetic resources, and along with numerous studies in Abies spp. due to the innate conservation value of fir forests, this research focused on the Moroccan endemic fir, Abies marocana. The aim was triple-fold: to assess its potential and dynamics in economic sectors for sustain...

Human Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein 1 (hPEBP1) is a novel target affecting numerous cellular signaling pathways involving in the formation of metastases. It can be used in the treatment of many cases of cancer. For these reasons, the Pharmaceutical Companies use computational approaches, including Multi-QSAR (2D, 3D, and Hologram QSAR) a...

Haloxylon scoparium is a plant widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Hence, this study focuses on the mineralogical and chemical composition and evaluation of the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of the aerial part of this species. The mineralogical analysis was done by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission...

The objective of this study is to evaluate the parasitological and bacteriological qualities of the soil and water of the Oued Larbaâ, through nine stations covering the part of the Oued crossing the Taza city of Morocco (7 km of length). This study was conducted during two dry periods (2017 and 2018) and one wet period (2018). Soil parasitological...

Limonium genus is traditionally used in North Africa for disease treatment and in cosmetic. This study investigates for the first time the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and enzyme inhibitory activities of two Tunisian endemic plants, L. boitardii and L. cercinense. Analysis of phenolic compounds was carried out by using RP-HPLC. Total phenolic and...

Background: Internet trade popularize the ornamental interest of plants but can also threaten species’ wild populations, if this activity is performed in uncontrolled and unauthorised ways. Questions: What endemic plants of Morocco and Tunisia are traded over the Internet by whom and at what prices? Studied species: 94 endemic plants of northern...

The neglected and underutilized plants (NUPs) could become alternative food sources in the agro-alimentary sector, enriching human and animal diets, offering the opportunity for sustainable exploitation, resilience to climate change, and production with resistance to pests and diseases. In the Mediterranean countries, these valuable resources are t...

In traditional medicine, various parts of the plant Juglans regia L. are used to treat several pathological conditions including diabetes and infectious and periodontal diseases. This includes the bark of Juglans regia. The present study is aimed at evaluating for the first time the mineral composition, investigating the antidiabetic and antibacter...

Medicinal plants are a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals or bionutrients. Studies carried out during the past few decades have shown that these phytochemicals play an important role in preventing metabolic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The present study was dedicated to the analysis of mineral and chemical composition and evaluation o...

In this study, we investigated the mineral composition, in vitro antidiabetic activity, and antibacterial potential of the aerial part of Ajuga iva. The mineral content of the plant powder was quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry. Then, three aqueous extracts were prepared: decocted, infused, and macerated and fi...

In this article, we studied a series of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) type Donor-π-Acceptor involving carbazole as donors and cyanoacrylic acid as acceptors of the electrons. These cells are linked by different π-spacer unit’s, with the aim to develop new organic dyes with high-performance optoelectronic properties. Different units have been i...

The accelerated development of industrial activities in Taza City implies the appearance of new sources of pollution that directly affect the quality of surface water. This is reflected in the structure and biodiversity of the city’s Oueds, particularly Oued Lârbaa, which receives the majority of the pollution load produced. Therefore, the study of...

The neglected and underutilized plants (NUPs) have never been mainstreamed by researchers, politicians and stakeholders for sustainable exploitation in the ornamental-horticultural sector. This study focused on 399 local endemic plants of three Mediterranean regions (Crete, Mediterranean coast-Rif of Morocco, Tunisia), with the aim to develop a new...

A computational study was carried out to develop quantitative-structure activity relationship (QSAR), pharmacophore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations of a series of N9-substituted harmine derivatives in order to investigate the structural factors involved in the cytotoxic activity and thus design new active derivatives. A valid...

The c-Jun N-terminal Kinase 3 (JNK3) is a family of protein kinases that plays an important role in the neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we have performed 2D and 3D quantitative structure–activity relationship (2D/3D-QSAR), molecular docking, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) approache...

In this work, a series of six organic dyes-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) combining various π-bridges with a fixed donor (triphenylamine) and a fixed electron acceptor (cyanoacrylic acid), namely D1-6, were studied. The geometrical structure, electronic and optical properties of these dyes have been investigated with the density functional theory a...

In recent years, investigating organic compounds for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) applications has received particular attention for its interesting optoelectronics properties. In this article, we have conducted a theoretical study on a series of D–π–A molecules, which have carbazole as a donor (D) and cyanoacrylic acid as acceptor (A) linked...

Leachate of the uncontrolled landfill contains pollutants, which is discharged directly into the environment. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the reduction of bacteriological and parasitological risks by four biological treatments: sequencing batch reactor, anaerobic, intensive aeration and combination of the three processes. The re...

Developing machine learning algorithms have become important tools in drug discovery process. Nowadays, a variety of machine learning tools are used in quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSARs) to establish QSAR models. The 2D-QSAR analysis involves the study of quantitative relationships between the molecular descriptors and biological...

The object of our study is devoted to the Spermatophyta of the wetlands of Oued Lârbaa, the main river of the city of Taza, Morocco, and which is under strong anthropic pressure. Our work involved a floristic inventory, to define ecological types and groups of dominant plants in relation to seasonal factors and types of pollution, explaining the me...

Background The present study was conducted on the Moroccan Juglansregia L. bark, in comparison with other Juglansregia collected in other countries, to study the effects of the use of different extraction solvents (water, ethanol, acetone, and diethyl ether), aqueous and organic extraction method, hot and cold extraction by maceration modalities on...

This study aims to investigate the biological activities of endemic plant Anabasis aretioïdes harvested in eastern Morocco. Various extracts were prepared from aerial part by aqueous and organic extraction using a Soxhlet and cold maceration. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was carried out on the powder and on the different extracts by standard...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Atractylis gummifera is a toxic plant widely used in Mediterranean traditional medicine against colds, dizziness, and headaches, as an antisyphilitic, against boils, as a purgative, emetic and deworming. All studies reported on this plant have been carried out either on the plant and its traditional uses, or on case...

Aerial parts of Ajuga iva subsp. Pseudoiva were screened for phytochemical composition using plant powder, and aqueous and organic extracts and their antioxidant activities were evaluated by hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity (H2O2), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2ʹ-azinobis-3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-...

Aerial parts of Ajuga iva subsp. Pseudoiva were screened for phytochemical composition using plant powder, and aqueous and organic extracts and their antioxidant activities were evaluated by hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity (H2O2), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2ʹ-azinobis-3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-...

Developing machine learning algorithms have become important tools in drug discovery process. Nowadays, a variety of machine learning tools are used in quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) to establish QSAR models. The 2D-QSAR analysis involves the study of quantitative relationships between the molecular descriptors and biological...

The field of artificial intelligence such as artificial neural networks (ANNs) and partial least squares regression (PLS-R) are the methods of choice for quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) correlation. Here, we have applied 2D-QSAR approach on a series of isonicotinamides derivatives as Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) inhi...

Oncogenic Kirsten RAt Sarcoma (KRAS) mutations are attractive targets in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, the objective of this work is to discover promising inhibitors that target this protein using in silico methods that have become increasingly cost-effective in research and development of drugs. In this study, 24 triterpenoid saponins...

Atractylis gummifera L. belongs to the family Asteraceae is widely used in traditional Moroccan medicine for its therapeutic effects (diuretic, purgative, emetic, abortive), but it causes serious and fatal poisonings, hence the objective of this work is to describe the current state of intoxication caused by A. gummifera in the Mediterranean and to...

This work focuses on the use of the integrated management system and its main descriptors for monitoring the evolution of household and similar waste from landfills, essentially: water content, temperature and impact of water on waste evolution. These descriptors, which reflect the good design and management of TECs, are measured in situ during fil...

In a continuing effort to find new cytotoxic, antitumor, and less toxic agents from β-carbolines derivatives, using experimental and computational studies, five β-carboline alkaloids were tested in vitro for their cell growth inhibitory activity using Lepidium sativum phytotest. Then, molecular docking and correlation analysis between activity and...

The anti-diabetic effect of Atractylis gummifera (plant used in traditional Moroccan medicine) has been evaluated in type 2 diabetic mice model. The mice were divided into five groups: Normal control, diabetic control, diabetic treated with aqueous macerate (500 mg/kg), diabetic treated with methanol macerate (500 mg/kg) and diabetic treated with m...

The Moroccan thermal spring of Ain Hamra is located 1 km from the provincial road connecting Aknoul to Bourd and a few kilometers from Ajdir (Province of Taza). It's used by many curists for its healing properties. This study aims ahydro geochemical and bacteriological analysis of Ain Hamra waters to determine the correlation between the geological...

In this study, we investigated the structure-activity relationships of a series of β-carboline alkaloid derivatives using the 2D-QSAR and molecular docking, in order to identify the mode of interaction between β-carboline derivatives and the PLK1 kinase, and determine their key substituents responsible for the cytotoxic activity. The obtained QSAR...

Phytochemical Analysis; Pharmacology: in vitro Bioassays and in vivo tests; Experimental oncology; Animal cell culture; Toxicological assay: in vitro tests and in animal models.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the landfilling of solid waste in uncontrolled landfills has become indispensable as these generate serious environmental problems; such as groundwater, surface water contamination and air pollution. Even in the case of controlled landfills, EIA can limit and control health and environmental risks. The...

Diabetes is a chronic condition which is increasingly progressing throughout the world. To treat it, several methods are used, among which is medicinal plants that still have an unknown mechanism of action. The objective of this work is to evaluate the in vitro hypoglycemic effect of the extracts of the underground part of Atractylis gummifera, a m...

Morocco is one of the Mediterranean countries that have a long history in traditional medicine. However, the Moroccan medicinal flora remains unknown and data on regional medicinal plants are very fragmented and dispersed, likewise, few people hold now this expertise. The present study aimed to document the medicinal plants used in traditional medi...

ABSTRACT The pine is the conifer the most wide-spread and the most known in the Mediterranean Basin. Its great plasticity and robustness have made him a pioneer species for large-scale production and protection reforestation. The study of the germination of two pine varieties of the Taza region (Pinus halpensis and Pinus pinaster) under osmotic str...

For an efficient electron transfer from donor to acceptor unit, the heterocycles units play a crucial role as π-bridges in the Donor-π-Acceptor (D-π-A) organic sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A series of organic D-π-A dyes, based on triphenylamine donor (D), cyanoacrylic acid acceptor (A)and bridged by different π-conjugated spa...

Today, the enormous difficulties encountered by certain national discharges have been repeated, including unexpected "behaviors", Very different from what had been planned and designed were observed for uncontrolled landfills: leachate production under or over appraisal, inefficient drainage or compaction ...; which highlights a lack of specific sc...

ABSTRACT: The current dump of the Taza city, dump wild, said dump Julien, located on the outskirts of the city and who’s commissioning dates back to early 1940, has transformed over the years into a major environmental nuisance. Its rehabilitation is necessary to reduce environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, leachate formation and...

The optimization of the ADME properties (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Elimination) is the most important goal to achieve, especially in the early into drug discovery stages. We had chosen the QSAR method to relate these ADME properties to the cytotoxicity of lupane-type saponins, in an attempt to illustrate these organic compounds react...

Article history: The structural and opto-electronic properties of thethreetriphenylamine-based sensitizers (dye 1, dye 2 and dye 3) have been examined by density functional theory(DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculationsto shed light on how the π-spacer could influence the performance of the dye. These lead us to determine master factors that mayin...

Cereals are the most important crops in Morocco. However, rapid population growth and climate warming are expected to advance the threat of drought, especially in areas with a semi-arid climate, as in the Mediterranean region. This work, we studied the impact of drought through irrigation stop on the anatomy and ultrastructure of leaves in two Moro...

SUBSTANCES NATURELLES ENTRE RECHERCHE EXPERIMENTALE ET MODELISATION MOLECULAIRE : CAS DES ALCALOIDES DE PEGANUM HARMALA Pr. Fatima LAMCHOURI Laboratoire des Matériaux, Substances Naturelles, Environnement & Modélisation (LMSNEM), Faculté Polydisciplinaire de Taza, Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah de Fès, Maroc. Email : fatima.lamchouri@gm...

Abstract Peganum harmala L. (Zygophylaceae) is a medicinal plant known to possess hypothermic and hallucinogenic properties from ancient times. Though the alkaloids identified from the species showed extensive pharmacological actions, they are highly cytotoxic. The present review summarises important findings on the antitumor properties and toxici...

In Morocco, one major concern remains the management of solid wastes and their by-products, including leachate and biogas. The leachates from the landfill uncontrolled town of Taza, which are neither collected nor treated, are routed directly to the river Larbaâ which delimits the north side the landfill, constitute grave sanitary and epidemiologic...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Peganum harmala is used in traditional medicine to treat a number of diseases including cancer. Our preliminary studies show that the alkaloidal extract of PH seed is cytotoxic to several tumor cell lines in vitro and has antitumor effect in a tumor model in vivo. The present investigation was aimed at extending our...

In this paper theoretical study by using DFT method on three conjugated compound based on 2-styryl-5-phenylazo-pyrrole is reported. These dyes contain one carboxy, two carboxy and one sulfonic acid anchoring groups, the aim is to investigate their effects on the electronic structure. The theoretical knowledge of the HOMO and LUMO energy levels of t...

Cancer is the worldwide health problem and the most frightening disease of humans. Modification of natural product lead is an important way to find promising anticancer agents. The β-carboline alkaloids present in medicinal plants have recently drawn attention due to their antitumor properties. Nine harmine derivatives (including harmine) were inve...

Although pharmacological industries have produced a number of new antibiotics, resistance of microorganisms to these drugs has increased. Some antibiotics have become almost obsolete because of drug resistance. In the course of our research program on medicinal plants, we investigated Haloxylon scoparium a species in Moroccan Sahara. In the present...

In this work, we investigate oligopyrroles and derivatives, which serve as models for corresponding polymers. In order to discuss these materials, we carried out DFT calculations and used DFT methods to calculate ground state electronic structures. We are particularly interested in exploring the potential of several substituent groups as electron d...

Abstract We have investigated the effect of doping in new conjugated compounds based on thiophene and oxathiazole with the DFT method at UB3LYP level with 6-31G(d) basis set. Our attention focused on the study on the geometries and electronic properties in neutral and doped state. The absorption properties were determined by ZINDO/s, CIS/6-31G(d) a...

A study on the geometries and electronic properties of new conjugated compounds based on pyrrole in neutral and doped states was carried out. The theoretical ground-state geometry and electronic structure of the studied molecules were obtained by the DFT method at the B3LYP level with a 6–31G(d) basis set. The optoelectronic properties were determi...

Anticancer compounds from natural products were screened using tumor cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative activity of four compounds isolated from the alkaloidic fraction of Peganum harmala. Compounds (1-4) were assayed in vitro for their effect on thymidine incorporation using Jurkat leukaemia cell line at concen...

Peganum harmala is plant known since the first century A.D. and still, currently used for therapeutic purposes. Harmaline, the active principle of the plant seeds, and its derivatives, cause visual troubles, loss of coordination, agitation and delirium, and, at high doses, it can produce paralysis. The present study was initiated to evaluate the us...

The alkaloidic fraction of the methanol extract of Peganum harmala seeds was tested in vitro on three tumoral cell-lines: UCP-Med and Med-mek carcinoma, and UCP-Med sarcoma. Proliferation was significantly reduced at all tested concentrations (20-120 micrograms/ml) during the first 24 h of contact. A cell lysis effect occurred after 24 h and increa...

From ancient times, Peganum harmala was claimed to be an important medicinal plant. Its seeds were known to possess hypothermic, and essentially hallucinogenic properties. Various authors have undertaken studies on the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral effects of Peganum harmala seeds, but studies on the antitumour activity are not to be foun...