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Taxonomy, Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Thymus Saturejoides: A Review
Abstract
Thymus saturejoides is an endemic species of the Lamiaceae family, native to Morocco and Algeria with a restricted distribution to the High Atlas, Middle Atlas, Anti-Atlas, Middle Atlantic Morocco, and the Saharan Atlas regions of Morocco, and the Aures Mountains in Al-geria. This research focused on taxonomy, ethnobotany, chemical compounds, and biological and pharmacological actions of T. saturejoides. Folk medicine has documented continued use of this plant species. The review summarises the scientific literature and experimental research from the databases including Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, ResearchGate, Academia.edu, PubMed, and PubFacts. Finally, we have provided a complete document on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and biological properties fields of T. saturejoides.
... Because chlorophyll is an essential element of plants, preserving and stimulating photosynthetic activity is critical to crop development (Chaachouay et al., 2023c). Melatonin acts as an antioxidant in plants, preventing chlorophyll breakdown. ...
... Traditional medicine has employed these compounds for their respective analgesic, antimalarial, and stimulant properties for centuries [40]. These chemicals have been used for many centuries in traditional medicine due to their pain-relieving, antimalarial, and stimulating effects, respectively [41,42]. ...
For thousands of years, nature has been a source of medical substances, and an astounding numeral of contemporary remedies have been identified from natural origins. Plants have long been used as folk herbal medicines to treat various disorders, and their different natural products have inspired the design, discovery, and development of new drugs. With the invention of recent molecular targets based on proteins, there is a growing need for fresh chemical diversification in screening. Natural products will play a vital part in supplying this need via the continuous exploration of global biodiversity, the majority of which remains unexplored. Even though drug discovery from medicinal plants remains an important source of novel therapeutic leads, various hurdles exist, including identifying and executing suitable high-throughput screening bioassays, scaling up the supply of bioactive molecules, and acquiring plant materials. Investigating these natural resources takes multidisciplinary , nationwide, and global partnerships in design, synthesis, discovery, and drug development techniques. This review article discusses current advancements and future approaches for discovering natural items such as health-and wellness-promoting remedies. It also summarizes strategies to unify the therapeutic use of plant-derived natural products worldwide to support future drug discoveries derived from plant sources.
The Purpose of the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project for India is to support small farmers and agro-entrepreneurs in Himachal Pradesh, to increase the productivity, quality, and market access of selected horticulture commodities. This project consists of four major components. 1) Production and Diversification which aims to enhance horticultural competitiveness at the farm level by supporting access to knowledge, technology, and finance to increase long-term productivity and farm incomes in an environment marked by changing market patterns and increased climate variability.2) Value Addition and Agro-enterprise Development which aims to improve value realization at the farm level, promote investments in agribusiness, foster backward and forward linkages in the value chains for horticulture products, support supply chain infrastructure that prevents wastage and value erosion; and enable secondary and tertiary processing that create higher value for the produce. 3) Market Development aims to provide an improved platform for market-related information and intelligence, expand market access through alternative marketing channels, enhance transparency in the price discovery process, and improve market infrastructure. 4) Project Management, Monitoring, and Learning will ensure the effective implementation of the project activities and monitor and evaluate project implementation progress, outputs, and outcomes, building on implementation experience.
The Purpose of the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project for India is to support small farmers and agro-entrepreneurs in Himachal Pradesh, to increase the productivity, quality, and market access of selected horticulture commodities. This project consists of four major components. 1) Production and Diversification which aims to enhance horticultural competitiveness at the farm level by supporting access to knowledge, technology, and finance to increase long-term productivity and farm incomes in an environment marked by changing market patterns and increased climate variability.2) Value Addition and Agro-enterprise Development which aims to improve value realization at the farm level, promote investments in agribusiness, foster backward and forward linkages in the value chains for horticulture products, support supply chain infrastructure that prevents wastage and value erosion; and enable secondary and tertiary processing that create higher value for the produce. 3) Market Development aims to provide an improved platform for market-related information and intelligence, expand market access through alternative marketing channels, enhance transparency in the price discovery process, and improve market infrastructure. 4) Project Management, Monitoring, and Learning will ensure the effective implementation of the project activities and monitor and evaluate project implementation progress, outputs, and outcomes, building on implementation experience.
The ethnobotanical study conducted in the city of Béni Mellal in 2017 has as main objective the evaluation of the city's potential in medicinal plants used specifically in the treatment of diabetes. For this purpose, the survey targeted 100 people of the local population and 33 plant taxa belonging to 22 families were identified for the treatment of diabetes. These taxa belong mainly to the families of Lamiaceae (06), Fabaceae (03), Amaryllidaceae (02), Chenopodiaceae (02), Euphorbiaceae (02) and Oleaceae (02). The most important antidiabetic plants are: Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (11), Olea europaea L. (07), Globularia alypum L. (06), Thymus saturioides Coss (06), Salvia officinalis L (05) and Aloe succotrina Lamk (05). The leaves remain the most used organs; the decoction and infusion are the two most dominant modes of preparation.
Plants produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites, many of which have antimicrobial activities against
some pathogenic microorganisms that are implicated in enteric infections. Some of these compounds are
constitutive, existing in healthy plants in their biologically active forms and they elicit chemotherapeutic or
chemoprophylactic properties against a wide range of infectious enteric diseases. Since the antimicrobial
resistance pattern are dependent partly, upon their modes of action, this current research was carried out to
suggest alternative mechanisms of phytochemicals’ antimicrobial action to combat the emerging enteric
microbial strains that are becoming refractory to the available allopathic chemotherapeutics.Many
mechanisms of antimicrobial action of phytochemicals have been suggested by different researchers but there
exists uncertainties as to the molecular basis for their modes of action. Some phytochemicals may act by
inhibiting microbial growth, inducing cellular membrane perturbations, interference with certain microbial
metabolic processes, modulation of signal transduction or gene expression pathways. Although this is a
preliminary research, it is suggested that the molecular basis for the modes of action of plant-based antibiotics
be ascertained and to determine if these phytochemicals would exhibit these mechanisms in vitro on sensitive
enteric pathogenic microorganisms.
Keywords: Enterotoxigenic; phytochemicals; pathogens; enteric; free radicals.
This study evaluated the effects of ecology (plant community, topography and pedology), as well as of climate, on the composition of essential oils (EOs) from two officinal wild plant species (Lamiales) from Apulia, namely Satureja cuneifolia Ten. and Thymus spinulosus Ten. Few scientific data on their chemical composition are available, due to the fact that the first has a limited distribution range and the second is endemic of southern Italy. Results for both species, never officially used in traditional medicine and/or as spices, showed that the ecological context (from a phytosociological and ecological point of view) may influence their EO composition, and hence, yield chemotypes different from those reported in the literature. S. cuneifolia and Th. spinulosus can be considered good sources of phytochemicals as natural agents in organic agriculture due to the presence of thymol and α-pinene. Overall, the obtained trend for EOs suggests a potential use of both species as food, pharmacy, cosmetics and perfumery. Hence, their cultivation and use represent a positive step to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals and to meet the increasing demand for natural and healthier products.
Antimicrobial preservatives are widely added to health products to prevent microbial contamination. However, because of the risks attributed to several synthetic agents, manufacturers are searching for new natural agents. Therefore, this work investigated the different physicochemical characteristics of one of those natural ingredients, the essential oil (EO) of Moroccan thyme (Thymus satureioides C.) and its antimicrobial potential against five microbial strains. The physicochemical parameters (density, refractive index, optical rotation, miscibility, acid value, ester value, and flash point) were measured and the chemical composition was determined by GC/MS. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using disc diffusion method and a macrodilution broth method. The EO yield was 1.01% compared to the dry matter. Fifty-two compounds were identified. The major compounds were thymol (28.66%), borneol (21.16%) and α- terpineol (12.33%). The disc diffusion method revealed that all the strains tested showed sensitivity to the EO at concentration of 1636 μg per disc. For the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum microbicidal concentrations (MMC), similar results were obtained for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (640 μg/mL), for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (960 μg/mL) and for Candida albicans (800 μg/mL) baring Aspergillus brasiliensis, which had 480 μg/mL and 640 μg/mL for the MIC and MMC, respectively.
Four taxa of the Lamiaceae family growing in Apulia (Clinopodium suaveolens, Satureja montana subsp. montana, Thymbra capitata, and Salvia fruticosa subsp. thomasii) that had not been previously studied for their potential use in the food sector, were analyzed for their essential oils (EOs) composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties against some microorganisms, isolated from bread and bakery products, including molds (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium roqueforti) and spore-forming bacteria (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus subtilis). Two different sites were considered for each plant species, and the strongest antimicrobial EOs, which were active against all of the microorganisms tested, were those from one S. montana subsp. montana sample (Sm2) and both T. capitata EOs (Tc1 and Tc2) with Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values ranging between 0.093% and 0.375% (v/v) against molds, while higher values were registered for bacteria (0.75–1%). In particular, the biological activity of EOs from T. capitata and S. montana subsp. montana was maybe due to the high amount of thymol and carvacrol, which were also responsible for the highest antioxidant activity. S. fruticosa subsp. thomasii EOs had different chemical profiles but showed only a slight antibacterial effect and no antifungal activity. C. suaveolens showed no significant changes between EOs with an interesting antifungal activity (MIC 0.093%÷0.187% v/v), which may be due to the presence of pulegone. These plant species can be considered as promising sources of bioactive compounds to be exploited as biopreservatives in bread and bakery products mainly considering the low concentration needed to inhibit microorganism’s growth.
Since the beginning of time, the Moroccan people have used many medicinal plants as a popular medicine to cure many human and livestock health problems. Yet, few studies have been carried in the past to properly document and promote traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge. This study was conducted out from July 1st, 2016 to July 30th, 2018 in the Rif; it was aimed to establish the list of medicinal plants, together with the association of ethnomedicinal knowledge. The ethnomedicinal data obtained were from 1000 traditional healers using semi-structured discussions, free listing, and focus groups. Family importance value, plant part value, fidelity level, the relative frequency of citation, and informant consensus factor were applied in data interpretation. Plant species were accumulated, and deposited at the Plant, Animal Productions and agro-industry laboratory, Ibn Tofail University. A total of 280 medicinal plants belong to 204 genera and 70 families were documented. Asteraceae with 29 species was the most used family in this study area. Rosmarinus officinalis L. (RFC = 0.189) was the species the most commonly prescribed by local traditional healers. Similarly, the leaf was the most useful part of the plant (PPV = 0.364), the most frequent affections were osteoarticular affections (ICF = 0.983), and the majority of herbal remedies were prepared from a decoction (38.6%). The results of the present investigation confirmed the presence of indigenous ethnomedicinal information of plant species in the Rif’s area to treat various disorders. More investigation on phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological should be considered to determine new drugs from these reported plants.
The use of natural compounds obtained from many plant resources are considered the most promising and eco-friendly alternative approach for controlling harmful algae in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the anti-cyanobacterial activity of essential oils (EOs) extracted from seven Moroccan aromatic and medicinal plants against unicellular Microcystis aeruginosa has been evaluated. The chemical composition of EOs was analyzed by GC–MS, and a total of 55 constituents were identified accounting for 97.6% to 100% of the total oils. The potential algicidal activity was evaluated qualitatively by the application of the paper disk diffusion method in solid medium and quantitatively by the application of broth microdilution methods in liquid medium. The results of solid medium showed that Chenopodium ambrosioides, Thymus broussonetii, Thymus maroccanus and Thymus satureioides essential oils inhibited totally the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa. While, Thymus Pallidus essential oil exhibited the weakest activity. The growth of the tested cyanobacteria was completely inhibited during the 5-days test period in liquid media by Thymus broussonetii, Thymus maroccanus and Thymus satureioides essential oils, while the lowest inhibition rates was observed with Thymus pallidus essential oil. Regarding the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration values, it appears that Thymus broussonetii essential oil displayed the greatest potency, while the weakest effectiveness was achieved with Thymus pallidus essential oil. These findings provide a platform for the development of new ecofriendly and safer botanical materials, which may be used as effective alternative algicidal agents for controlling toxic cyanobacterial blooms.
Background
Thyme has been used for centuries in southeastern Morocco to treat a wide range of diseases such as inflammation disorders. The aim of the current study is to examine and to compare in vitro the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticoagulant activities of three thyme species grown in southeastern Morocco.
Results
Data showed that all studied species possess an important antioxidant activity: Thymus atlanticus (IC 50 = 16.59 μg/mL), Thymus zygis (IC 50 = 15.43 μg/mL), and Thymus satureioides (IC 50 = 14.65 μg/mL). Concerning the anti-inflammatory activity, the highest effect was depicted in Thymus atlanticus followed by Thymus zygis and Thymus satureioides . With regard to the anticoagulant activity, the aqueous extract of these species prolongs activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and thrombin time significantly ( p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusion
Our results provide evidence that thymus extract exhibits marked antioxidant, anticoagulant, and anti-inflammatory effects, thus justifying the popular uses of these plants to treat some inflammatory and cardiovascular illnesses.
This study aimed to determine the effects ofcrude extract (CE) and fractions derived fromtheMoroccan endemic plant Thymus satureioides (T. satureioides)oninflammation, coagulation and viability of a cell cancer line. The crude extract and fractions from the leaves of T. satureioides were analysed using HPLC and examined for their antioxidant capacity using mineral and biological substrates. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was evaluated using croton oil- and carrageenan-induced oedema. The effect on blood coagulation in normal rat plasmawas also determined using prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) as- says. Furthermore, the oral acute toxicity and antiproliferative effects on the MCF-7 cell line of the CE were eval- uated. The major identified polyphenol in the CE and polar fractions was rosmarinic acid. No mortalities due to acute toxicity were observed at 5 g/kg. All plant preparations protected the cell membranes of erythrocytes against oxidative damage and showed high scavenging activity, as measured using DPPH and FRAP. Moreover, the hydrophobic fractions demonstrated significant inhibitory effects against croton oil-induced oedema. The methanol fraction (60 mg/kg) significantly reduced oedema induced by carrageenan during the first phase. During the APTT and PT assays, the CE and fractions caused plasma coagulation even at low concentrations. An antiproliferative assay (MTT) showed a significant decrease in the number ofviable cells in culturemedium sup- plemented with CE at different concentrations. These results suggest that extracts from the leaves of T. satureioides constitute a valuable source of anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer metabolites.
The air-dried aerial leaves of Petroselinum crispum, Thymus satureioides and dried Spirulina platensis powder were separately extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus. The dark green solution obtained was subject to the dechlorophyllation by two techniques, the electrocoagulation and solvent extraction. The obtained absorbances, were particularly much lower for electrocoagulation process. This result showed that this technique can remove easily plant pigments in the extracts, without affecting the chemical composition on secondary metabolites.
Objective
The present work is undertaken for phytochemical and pharmacological investigation of Diplazium esculentum leaf's hydroalcoholic extract (DEHAe).
Methods
Antioxidant activity was estimated by DPPH assay and nitric oxide (NO) inhibition was determined using Griess reagent. Diabetes was induced artificially by streptozotocin (STZ). DEHAe was administered orally to see its affect on fasting glucose level, lipid profile, biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzyme activity. Hepatoprotective activity was examined by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic injury method. Histological slides of pancreas were prepared to observe the histological changes.
Results
The experiments yielded expected activity of the plant extract in animal model. IC50 value of DEHAe for in vitro antioxidant activity and NO inhibition activity was found to be 138.8 and 151.9 μg/mL respectively. Fasting blood glucose level was reduced 50.2% by DEHAe (500 mg/kg) in STZ induced diabetic rats. Significant normalization (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) of the lipid profile and serum marker enzymes were observed in the diabetic rats treated with DEHAe. Sufficient normalization of antioxidant enzyme activity was observed by DEHAe administration. CCl4 had a little impact on the liver enzyme activity and total biluribin on the rats pre-treated with DEHAe. Pancreas of DEHAe treated animals showed a significant reduction of necrosis and regeneration of β-cells.
Conclusion
The present experiment shows that DEHAe has significant activity on free radical scavenging, antidiabetic, hyperlipidimic and hepatoprotective activity and thus can be consumed as a functional vegetable.
In search of an ecofriendly algaecide, aqueous extracts of two medicinal plants, Thymus
satureioides Coss. and Artemisia herba alba L., were assessed for antialgal activity against Microcystis aeruginosa. An experiment was designed using five treatments (1%, 0.75%, 0.5%,0.25% and 0.1%). The growth of M. aeruginosa, morphological modifications, and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and carotenoids) on exposure to the extracts were explored. Also, phytochemical parameters in the extracts were analyzed to reveal the potential allelochemical compounds.
The results showed that both T. satureioides and A. herba alba extracts inhibited the growth of M.aeruginosa in a concentration-dependent way. After 8 days of treatment, the highest inhibition rates reached were 95%, 93% and 88.58%, and for T. satureioides and A. herba alba aqueous extracts, respectively. Chlorophyll a and carotenoid concentrations in cultures decreased especially in the 1% treatment group. Several morphological changes were observed in the treatment group compared to the controls. It was concluded that M. aeruginosa growth was suppressed by the potentially allelochemical compounds and probably by other allelochemical substances in aqueous extracts. Our results illustrated
that both T. satureioides and A. herba alba extracts are able to control Microcystis blooms, and these may be recommended as a remedy for contamination of water bodies by harmful blooms.
Keywords: Microcystis aeruginosa, Thymus satureioides Coss., Artemisia herba alba L., algicides, morphological and physiological changes, inhibitory effect
As a consequence of its somewhat difficult access (limited road network) and a flora considered to be poorly diversified, eastern Morocco remains little attractive for botanists, and consequently its flora is poorly known. As a part of a research program on natural habitats and flora of this area, led by the Emirates Center for Wildlife Propagation, botanical surveys were performed in 2011 and 2012 in the Lamrija plain and northern slopes of the Debdou mountains. This article presents the most remarkable floristic observations resulting from these surveys (around 150 taxa): regionally new taxa (Africa, eastern Morocco) and rare taxa in Morocco. Numerous discoveries have been made in this area (15% of observed taxa are new or confirmed for eastern Morocco), in particular:
- 3 taxa new to science
- 1 taxon new to Africa
- 119 taxa new or confirmed from at least one biogeographical sector of eastern Morocco
- 4 endemic taxa recorded for the first time outside of their known distribution area of endemism.
The main objective of this work was to study and to compare the inhibition of the corrosion of the Carbon steel,in sulfuric acid medium (0.5 M), using Thymus satureioides essential oil (TSEO) mixed with the cosmetic Arganiaspinosa oil (CAO) and only CAO.First the composition of the essential oil isolated from the aerial parts of Thymus satureioides(TS), an endemic plant from Morocco, was investigated by GC/MS. And then TSEO and CAO were used to evaluate their percentage of the corrosion inhibition. To do this, we used weight loss method, potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The results revealed that TSEOwas found to be rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes, with borneol (32.13 %), α- terpineol (19.87%) and camphene (15.05%) being the major components. Moreover, the TSEO mixed with CAO have a good inhibiting effect on the metal tested in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. The protection efficiency increases with increasing inhibitor concentration to attain, in the presence of CAO+TSEO and CAO respectively 96% at 4g/L and 91% at 5g/L. Potentiodynamic Polarization measurements show also that tested inhibitor acts essentially as a mixed-type inhibitor. The results demonstrated that (CAO+TSEO) is adsorbed on the surface of carbon steel according to Langmuir adsorption isotherm.
p> Objective: Thymus satureioides is a well-known aromatic perennial shrub widely used throughout the Mediterranean basin as a culinary herb, in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases, and as a natural preservative ingredient in the food industry. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of T. Satureioides essential oil and to assess its antibacterial and antioxidant activities.
Methods: The chemical composition of the essential oil was investigated by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil was evaluated for its antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using agar diffusion method and macro-broth dilution. The antioxidant activity was tested by three different methods, namely DPPH free radical scavenging, β-carotene/linoleic acid and TBARS assays.
Results: Thirty compounds were identified, representing 85.52% of the total composition of this essential oil. Borneol (26.45%) and thymol (11.24%) were the major components. The oil had a bactericidal activity against all tested bacteria, with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In addition, the T. satureioides essential oil revealed strong antioxidant activity in all conducted assays.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that essential oil of T. satureioides may be used as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics and antioxidants.</p
Essential oils (EOs) from Moroccan ecotypes of Artemisia herba-alba, Citrus sinensis, Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus satureioides and their main components were comparatively evaluated for their in vitro activity against the phytonematode species Meloidogyne incognita, Pratylenchus vulnus and Xiphinema index. Suppressiveness of drench or fumigation soil treatment with the four EOs was also investigated against M. incognita on tomato in potting mixes. The in vitro nematicidal activity of the main constituents of the four EOs was also determined. More than 94 % mortality of M. incognita juveniles occurred after a 24-h exposure to a 15 μg ml⁻¹ solution of A. herba-alba EO. A 100 % mortality of X. index females was observed at all exposure times and concentrations of all EOs except that from C. sinensis. Mortality of P. vulnus peaked at 75 % only after a 96-h permanence in the 15 μg ml⁻¹ solution of R. officinalis EO. The in vitro activity of EOs’ main components was never as high as that of the whole EOs, suggesting a synergistic action of the EO multicomponent mixture. Soil treatments with the four EOs generally resulted in a significant reduction of root-knot nematode infestation on tomato, though in an aggregate comparison of data the A. herba-alba EO was more active than the other three EOs, and fumigation treatments were more effective than application in water solution. The high nematicidal activity of most of the tested EOs and their large availability make them a potential source of new nematicide formulations.
Objective: To evaluate the susceptibility of Mycobacterium aurum and Mycobacterium smegmatis in vitro to the essential oils obtained from two medicinal plants: Thymus satureioides (T. satureioides) and Mentha pulegium (M. pulegium), and to study their chemical composition.
Methods: The aerial parts of T. satureioides and M. pulegium (leaves and stems) were hydro-distillated using a Clevenger-type apparatus and essential oils were analyzed and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antimycobacterial screening of essential oils was performed on the basis of the inhibition zone diameter by disc diffusion method against two mycobacterial strains whereas the minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration were determined by using the micro-dilution method.
Results: Chemical analysis of their aerial part's essential oils gave as major compounds, borneol (34.26%), carvacrol (31.21%) and thymol (3.71%) for T. satureioides and R(+)-pulegone (75.48%), carvone (6.66%) and dihydrocarvone (4.64%) for M. pulegium. Thereafter their antimycobacterial effect evaluation, using the micro-dilution method, indicated that minimal inhibitory concentration values of T. satureioides essential oil ranged from 0.062% to 0.015% (v/v) and from 0.125% to 0.031% (v/v) for M. pulegium respectively against Mycobacterium aurum and Mycobacterium smegmatis.
Conclusions: It is clearly evident from the results obtained that the Moroccan medicinal plants have great potential to be used as anti-tuberculosis agents. These findings may help scientists to undertake several research projects to discover useful natural product as new anti-tuberculosis drug.
The purpose of this present work is to study the essential oils composition of three endemic Thymus species from southwest of Morocco: Thymus satureioides Coss., Thymus pallidus Batt. and Thymus leptobotrys Murb., as well as their antifungal activity towards nineteen strains of emerging nosocomial Fluconazole-resistant Candida species. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined by capillary gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry analysis. The results reveal qualitative and quantitative variation in composition of Thymus species. Seventy-three different compounds, 56 for T. satureioides accounting for 99.97% of the total essential oil, 52 for T. pallidus, accounting for 98.94% of the total essential oil, and 40 for T. leptobotrys accounting for 99.20%, were determined. The results obtained for the anticandidal disc-diffusion assay shows that the 19 strains of Candida species tested were inhibited by the Moroccan Thymus essential oils to a varying degree, with the diameters of the inhibition zone ranging from 49±1.00 to 85±1.15 mm. There were significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in the antifungal activities of the essential oils on all species tested who showed larger inhibition zones than the positive control fluconazole and amphotericine B. Candida albicans showed a high sensitivity to essential oils of Thymus pallidus and Thymus leptobotrys compared with essential oil of Thymus satureioides and controls. While non-albicans Candida species showed less sensitivity to essential oils of Thymus pallidus and Thymus leptobotrys and are more sensitive to essential oils of Thymus satureioides than Candida albicans. Interestingly C. krusei, C. dubliniensis and C. glabrata were found to be resistant to conventional antifungal (fluconazole and amphotericine B), while our essential oils tested were able to inhibit the growth of Candida strains resistant to antifungal agents. The value of Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimal Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of the Thymus essential oils studied ranges from 0.33 mg/mL to 0.91 mg/mL. All the essential oils possessed higher antifungal potential than classical fungicide.
Objective: As part of the development of natural heritage of Morocco, an ethnobotanical study was conducted in the region of Agadir Ida Ou Tanane (Southwest Morocco) with the aim to collect detailed information about the usage of plants in human therapy.Methodology and results: The survey was carried out over a period of 24 months, by means of semi-structured and structured interviews. A total of 400 interviews were done with traditional health practitioners and knowledgeable villagers. Data collected was on, vernacular names of plants, their uses, parts used and mode of preparation. Other information about users was also collected such as age, sex, level of education. A total of 110 plants species belonging to 53 families and 95 genera were inventoried with 7.27 % of the species endemic to Morocco. Plants frequently used were: Thymus satureioides (Tazouknnit, Zaitra), Thymus broussonnetii (Azoukni, Zaater), Argania spinosa (Argan), Tetraclinis articulata (Azouka, Aârar) and Lavandula dentate (Igerch, Halhal). The elderly (more than 50 years) have more knowledge in medicinal plants with regard to the other age groups, this indicates that knowledge was acquired by long experience accumulated.Conclusion and application of results: This survey shows that traditional medicine is still used and constituted a very rich heritage in Agadir Ida Ou Tanane Region. The collected data may help to avoid the loss of traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants detained in the study area, and represent the preliminary information required in view of a future phytochemical investigation on the most used plants.
Objectif : le but de cette étude est de mener une enquête ethnobotanique des plantes médicinales utilisées en phytothérapie traditionnelle dans le district de Béni-Mellal.Méthodologie et résultats : A l’aide de 200 fiches questionnaires, une série d’enquêtes ethnobotaniques a été menée sur le terrain en 2014 en utilisant un échantillonnage aléatoire stratifié. Ces recherches, complétées par l’identification des échantillons sur le terrain et au laboratoire, nous ont permis de faire connaissance de 69 espèces médicinales réparties en 38 familles et 63 genres avec une importance relative des familles suivantes par leur nombre d’espèces : Lamiaceae (23,07%), Apiaceae (21,05%), Fabaceae (10,52%) et Asteraceae (7,69%).Conclusion et application de la recherche : Cette étude a conduit à l'élaboration d'un catalogue de plantes médicinales contenant les informations sur les utilisations thérapeutiques pratiquées par la population locale. Par ailleurs, Cet inventaire peut constituer une source d’informations très précieuse .Il contribue par sa part à la connaissance de la flore médicinale et la sauvegarde du savoir-faire populaire local.Mots clés : plantes médicinales, ethnobotanique, Béni-Mellal, flore médicinale.Objective: The aim of this study is to conduct an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in traditional herbal medicine in Beni-Mellal district.Methods and results: Using 320 questionnaires, a series of ethnobotanical surveys was conducted in the field in 2014 using stratified random sampling techniques. This research, completed by the identification of samples in the field and in the laboratory, has allowed us to get to know 69 species belonging to 63 genera and 38 families, with a predominance of Lamiaceae (23.07%), Apiaceae (21.05%), Fabaceae (10,52%) and Asteraceae (7.69% %).Conclusion and application of research: This study has led to the development of a catalog of medicinal plants which has the information about the therapeutic uses practiced by the local population. This inventory can be a very valuable source of information .It contributes its share to the knowledge of medicinal flora and the safeguarding of local popular expertise.
Medicinal plants have played an essential role in the development of human culture. Medicinal plants are resources of traditional medicines and many of the modern medicines are produced indirectly from plants. This study illustrates the importance of traditional and modern medicines in the treatment and management of human diseases and ailments. It has been confirmed by WHO that herbal medicines serve the health needs of about 80 percent of the world’s population; especially for millions of people in the vast rural areas of developing countries. Meanwhile, consumers in developed countries are becoming disillusioned with modern health care and are seeking alternatives. Thymus vulgaris is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiacea. Thymus is a widely used medicinal plant in food and pharmaceutical industries. Among different species of Thymus, Thymus vulgaris is used more than other species in therapeutic dosage forms. In Traditional medicine T. vulgaris is cultivated in many countries by most people especially in rural areas depending on herbal medicines to treat many diseases including inflammation-related ailments such as rheumatism, muscle swelling, insect bites, pains, etc. Also the modern medicine in essential oil of thyme has demonstrated that the compounds have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties. In this review the objective is to consider the past and present value of medicinal plants such as Thymus vulgar is used in traditional and modern medical practices as bioactive natural compounds.
This study aims at analysing the chemical composition of the essential oils (E.O.) of four varieties of thyme (Thymus broussonetii, Thymus satureioides, Thymus zygis and Thymus vulgaris) and their comparison; through the principal components analysis (PCA) method; with new species of thyme (T. riatarum, T. lepobotrys and T. munbyanus), previously studied by M. El Idrissi & all., 2012. As a matter of fact, this comparison is the identification or differentiation between species. Chromatographic analysis of thyme (E.O).has emerged different chemotypes. Thus, thymol, is both the chemotype T. zygis-Meknes 44.17% and T. vulgaris –Errachidia 35.87%. The chemotype T. brossenetii-Khémisset is carvone 46.70%, while that of Thymus satureoides from Agadir is the borneol 36.56%. (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (AHC) method shows a similarity of chémotye for T. vulgaris, T. leptobotrys and T. zygis, although the majority of compounds differ quantitatively. Same for the T. munbyanus, T. satureioides& T. riatarum which are chemotype "borneol"
Objective:: To examine the antioxidant and antihemolytic activities of the aqueous extract, total polyphenols and total flavonoids of Thymus satureioides (T. satureioides).
Methods:: This plant was collected from Tafilalet Region of Morocco. The aqueous extract was obtained by cold maceration, and the components were obtained by Soxhlet extraction using solvents of varying polarity. The identification and quantification of phenol (caffeic and rosmarinic acids) and flavones (luteolin 7-glycoside and hesperetin) were carried out by high performance liquid chromatography analysis.
Results:: Total polyphenol and flavonoids contents in the aqueous extract of T. satureioides were (456.73±6.94) mg caffeic acid equivalent/g of dry plant and (172.79±2.12) mg rutin equivalent/g of dry plant, respectively. Different extracts showed good antioxidant activity. IC50 for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil radical scavenging activity was (0.480±0.010), (0.418±0.005), (43.891±2.467) and (0.510±0.010) mg/mL for the aqueous extract, total polyphenol, flavonoids and trolox, respectively. Also, the extracts showed ferric reducing antioxidant power and the values were (50.79±2.02), (117.51±6.46), (7.03±0.29) and (44.33±7.55) mmol trolox/g for the aqueous extract, total polyphenol, flavonoids and trolox, respectively. Serum levels of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased in comparison with the oxidized control (P
Nordine Aicha, Tlemcani Chendid Rachida and EL Meskaoui Abdelmalek (2013) Micropropagation of Thymus satureioides Coss. an endangered medicinal plant of Morocco. Journal of Agricultural Technology 9(2):487-501. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid system for regeneration of an important endemic medicinal plant of Morocco, Thymus satureioides Coss. (Labiatae). Initially in vitro grown seedling were exposed to full strength Murashige and Skoog, 1962 (MS) medium or reduced to ½ MS or ¼ MS hormone-free. Then, for axillary shoots proliferation, BAP, KIN, NAA and IAA were tested for their ability to multiply T. satureioides. Shoots obtained on proliferation medium were exposed to elongation medium containing gibberellic acid (GA 3) (0.5, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 µM). The effect of the auxins IAA, IBA and NAA, on the in vitro rooting of the shoots was studied. Maximum number of shoots (5.25±0.52) was observed on the ½ MS medium containing 2.22 µM of BAP. Incorporation of 1 µM of GA 3 in ½ MS medium significantly improved the shoot elongation within 3 weeks of culture. For rooting, rhizogenezis was promoted on half strength MS medium hormone-free. Regenerated plants were transferred to dimpled plates filled by peat and vermiculite (2/3:1/3 v/v) mixture. Micropropagated Thymus satureioides plants had a 95% survival rate, and showed vigorous and uniform growth.
The chemical composition and biological activity of cultivated and wild medicinal and aromatic plants from Morocco (Artemisia herba-alba, Lippia citriodora, Mentha pulegium, M. spicata, Myrtus communis, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Thymus satureioides) are described. The essential oils (EOs) of these species have been analyzed by GC-MS. The antifeedant, nematicidal and phytotoxic activities of the EOs were tested on insect pests (Spodoptera littoralis, Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum padi), root-knot nematodes (Meloydogine javanica) and plants (Lactuca sativa, Lolium perenne and Lycopersicum esculentum). EOs from A. herba-alba, M. pulegium and R. officinalis were strong antifeedants against S. littoralis, M. persicae and R. padi. EOs from L. citriodora, M. spicata and T. satureioides showed high nematicidal activity. These biological effects are explained by the activity of the major EO components and/or synergistic effects.
Plants have been used for thousands of years to flavor and conserve food, to treat health disorders and to prevent diseases including epidemics. The knowledge of their healing properties has been transmitted over the centuries within and among human communities. Active compounds produced during secondary vegetal metabolism are usually responsible for the biological properties of some plant species used throughout the globe for various purposes, including treatment of infectious diseases. Currently, data on the antimicrobial activity of numerous plants, so far considered empirical, have been scientifically confirmed, concomitantly with the increasing number of reports on pathogenic microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials. Products derived from plants may potentially control microbial growth in diverse situations and in the specific case of disease treatment, numerous studies have aimed to describe the chemical composition of these plant antimicrobials and the mechanisms involved in microbial growth inhibition, either separately or associated with conventional antimicrobials. Thus, in the present work, medicinal plants with emphasis on their antimicrobial properties are reviewed.
Contexte : Depuis le début des temps, le peuple du Rif marocain utilise des plantes aromatiques etmédicinales comme médecine traditionnelle pour guérir différentes maladies humaines. Cependant, peud’études ont été réalisées dans le passé pour bien documenter et promouvoir des connaissanceséthnomédicinales traditionnelles.Objectif : Cette enquête a été réalisée du 1 Juillet 2016 au 30 Juillet 2018 dans le Rif (Nord du Maroc) dansle but d’établir le catalogue des plantes médicinales et d’identifier les plantes aromatiques et médicinalesutilisées par la population locale pour soulager les maux de leurs contemporains, ainsi que lesconnaissances ethnomédecines qui y sont associées.Matériel et méthodes : Les informations ethnomédicinales recueillies provenaient de n=1000 personnesayant participées à des entrevues semi-structurées, à des listes gratuites et à des groupes de discussion.Valeur d’importance familiale (FIV), relative fréquence de citations (RFC), valeur de la partie de plante(PPV), niveau de fidélité (FL) et facteur consensus des informateurs (ICF) ont été utilisés dans l’analyse desdonnées. Des plantes aromatiques et médicinales ont été recueillies, identifiées et conservées aulaboratoire de nutrition, santé et environnement de l’université Ibn Tofail, faculté des sciences à Kenitra.Résultats : Les résultats obtenus ont montré que la feuille était la partie de plante la plus utilisée (PPV =0.364), les affections les plus fréquentes étaient les affections ostéo-articulaires (ICF = 0.983), et lamajorité des remèdes à base de plantes ont été préparés à partir de décoction (38.6%). L’analysefloristique des résultats obtenus par cette étude a permis de recenser 280 espèces médicinales répartis en204 genres et 70 familles avec la prédominance notamment de cinq familles : Asteraceae (29 espèces),Lamiaceae (22 espèces), Fabaceae et Poaceae (21 espèces chacune) et Apiaceae (17 espèces). De même,les espèces les plus utilisées dans cette région sont : Rosmarinus officinalis L. (RFC = 0.189), Thymussatureioides Coss. (RFC = 0.176), Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter. (RFC= 0.165), Lawsonia inermis L. (RFC =0.154) et Arenaria rubra L. (RFC = 0.153). L’analyse floristique a permis également de citer : 15 taxons raresou menacés, 14 espèces endémiques et 94 plantes toxiques.Conclusions : Les résultats de cette étude ont montrés l’existence des connaissances ethnomédicinalesindigènes sur les plantes médicinales dans le Rif marocain pour traiter différentes maux quotidiens. Eneffet, la collecte et l’analyse des informations recueillies ont permis de transformer le savoir-fairepopulaire oral dans cette région en savoir transcrit par l’établissement d’un catalogue des plantesaromatiques et médicinales utilisées et leur usage thérapeutique.
Thymus pallidus and Thymus satureioides are two endemic Moroccan species of thyme that belong to the Lamiaceae family. They are exploited intensively from the wild for their essential oils (EOs) which are characterized by numerous therapeutic properties. In order to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of these species, the effect of cultivation on yield, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of EOs were investigated over the course of three years. A slight decrease of EOs yield was obtained by steam distillation from cultivated thymes. As well as the yield, the scanning electron microscopy analysis of the leaves has also showed a decrease in the gland density. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and GC/Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID) analyses of EOs led to the identification of 32 compounds representing more than 98.4 % of the total oils. The major compounds of wild T. pallidus EOs were γ-terpinene (20.23-21.49 %), borneol (12.33-12.39 %) and α-phellandrene (11.63-12.58 %). Whereas EOs obtained from cultivated plants were dominated by γ-terpinene (17.27-17.32 %), borneol (12.39-8.3 %), camphene (10.67-10.97 %) and α-phellandrene (10.57-10.71 %). Carvacrol (26.07-26.18 %) and borneol (17.25-20.67 %) were the main chemical constituents in both wild and cultivated T. satureioides EOs. Regarding the antioxidant activity, the EOs of cultivated thymes were not highly affected by cultivation. Despite some chemical variability, our results show that cultivation also did not affect the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of both species. These results imply that the cultivation process could be a promising alternative to ensure the sustainable use of the two endemic thyme species in threat.
The effects of essential oils (EOs) and their eight major components extracted from five aromatic and medicinal plant (AMP) species on the development of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis, the phytopathogenic fungus responsible for fusarium wilt (referred to as Bayoud in Morocco) on date palm in Moroccan oases (Errachidia region), were studied. The EOs were extracted from the plants by hydrodistillation and chemically analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The major chemical components extracted from the EOs of each AMP were: Origanum compactum (carvacrol 29.26%, thymol 18.52%, O-cymene 11.89%, γ-terpinene 10.77%); Thymus satureioides (borneol 22.73%, carvacrol 16.96%, α-terpineol: 12.20%); Rosmarinus officinalis (eucalyptol 26.45%, camphor 15.51%, α- and β-pinene 21.31%); Lavandula dentata (linalool 30.22%, linalyl anthranilate 23.47%, eucalyptol 9.17%); Myrtus communis (myrtenyl acetate 50.28%, eucalyptol 15.01%). The antifungal activity of the isolated EOs and their major components in comparison to that of two synthetic fungicides was evaluated by calculating the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of each antifungal product. The results of this analysis showed that the EOs of O. compactum and T. satureioides were able to inhibit the growth of F. oxysporum at very low concentrations (MFC 5 and 13 μl ml⁻¹, respectively); these values were relatively better than those of the mancozeb synthetic fungicide (MFC 6 μl ml⁻¹) and very much better than the EOs of R. officinalis, L. dentata and M. communis (MFC 40 μl ml⁻¹). Thymol and carvacrol were effective fungicides at a very low concentration (MFC 0.94 and 2.08 μl ml⁻¹, respectively), followed in increasing concentration by α-terpineol (MFC 10 μl ml⁻¹), linalool (MFC 13.00 μl ml⁻¹) and borneol (MFC 26.67 μl ml⁻¹). α-Pinene, eucalyptol and myrtenyl acetate were shown to have comparable fungicide properties, but at high concentrations ranging from 20 to 80 μl ml⁻¹. The effectiveness of the EO of Origanum and Thymus species would therefore appear to be linked to the abundant presence of carvracrol and thymol compounds. Given the damage caused by F. oxysporum on date palm trees and other plants in Morocco, as well as the environmental and health impacts of fungicides, the use of O. compactum and T. satureioides EOs or their major components (thymol and carvacrol) against this pathogen could be an alternative to commercially available synthetic fungicides.
Ce travail vise de comparer, pour la première fois, l’activité insecticide des huiles essentielles des espèces de thyms originaires du Sud-Ouest marocain ( Thymus satureioides Coss., Thymus broussonetii Boiss., Thymus maroccanus Ball., Thymus ciliatus (Desf.) Benth., Thymus pallidus Batt., et Thymus leptobotrys Murb. L’étude de la toxicité de ces huiles essentielles a été réalisée par le test de contact sur papier-filtre. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que toutes les huiles essentielles testées ont présenté un effet insecticide important vis-à-vis des adultes de Tribolium castaneum Herbst. Toutefois, l’huile essentielle de Thymus leptobotrys (thym à carvacrol) a montré la toxicité la plus élevée, avec des valeurs de DL50 et DL90 de 0,08 et 0,19 μl/cm2, respectivement, et des valeurs de LT50 et LT90, allant de 32,80 à 17,18 heures et de 69,37 à 32,05 heures, respectivement. Ces données suggèrent que les huiles essentielles de ces thyms, particulièrement celle de Thymus leptobotrys , peuvent présenter une matière première pour le développement de nouveaux produits bio-insecticides contre Tribolium castaneum , l’un des principaux ravageurs des denrées alimentaires stockées dans l’Afrique du Nord.
Cette recherche est une étude ethnopharmacologique du système traditionnel de soins au Maroc, articulée principalement autour d'une vaste enquête de terrain conduite de 1969 à 1992 et d'une consultation de textes arabes anciens dans le but de déterminer les sources historiques de la tradition marocaine en matière de pharmacopée. Notre enquête a permis de dresser un état des lieux de la médecine traditionnelle actuellement en usage au Maroc et d'identifier 1039 espèces utilisées par la pharmacopée locale, espèces que nous avons regroupé en 694 rubriques constituant le catalogue. En analysant les données de ce catalogue, nous avons établi que la pharmacopée marocaine se caractérise aujourd'hui par une grande diversité de matières premières de toutes provenances, locales ou importées, mais marquée par une forte emprise de la territorialité (plus de 85% des produits sont tirés de l'environnement local). Elle se caractérise aussi par un contenu indéniablement rationnel, et une continuité remarquable par rapport à la médecine gréco-arabe qui n'exclut pas cependant une certaine capacité à assimiler la nouveauté. Enfin notre recherche a permis de mettre en évidence que le système traditionnel de soins au Maroc avait gardé une aptitude réelle à soulager les maux des populations ce qui lui permet d'offrir, dans le cadre d'une politique d'optimisation de l'effort sanitaire public, des solutions alternatives pour une large couverture du pays en soins de base
Thymus satureioides and Origanum elongatum, endemic, aromatic and sources of honey in Morocco, are rich in essential oils (EOs). In Southwest, Varroa destructor affects less bee colonies foraging in thyme (Thymus satureioides) formations. The aim of this study was (i) to determine the composition of T. satureioides and O. elongatum EOs in relation to origins and phenological stages and (ii) to investigate the acaricidal activity against Varroa destructor. Essential oils obtained showed differences in the chemical composition according to plant species but did not vary drastically with the vegetative stage of growth and origins. The main constituents found in T. satureioides EOs were borneol (20.07%–48.23%) and α-terpineol (5.12%–18.16%), smaller amounts of camphen (5.10%–14.44%) and α-pinene (2.43%–7.63%), whereas thymol (0.14%–8.64%) or carvacrol (0.88%–15.23%). O. elongatum EOs contained carvacrol (67.34%–81.72%), γ-terpinene (3.29%–10.75%), para-cymene (3.62%–7.81%) and thymol (1.79%–9.17%). The apiary tests revealed a variable efficacy from 50 to 94% depending on the composition of essential oils. EOs with carvacrol as major compound produced a better effect than other EOs with dominant borneol. However, the blend containing high levels of carvacrol (55.35%) and borneol (20.60%) exhibited much higher activity than all treatments. A synergistic effect between the compounds of T. satureioides and O. elongatum EOs was highlighted.
This article reviews new discoveries related to the phytochemistry and biological activities of bioactive compounds from Piper species. It outlines the anticancer, anti-parasitic, and antimicrobial activities of Piper species in relation to drug discovery. The use of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants as therapeutic agents has been an important area in biomedical and natural product research. Piper species are effective medicinal plants used in folk medicine. They have traditionally been used to treat stomach ache, rheumatoid arthritis, diarrhoea and other general infections, and their efficacy has been attributed to their bioactive compounds. Bioactive compounds and extracts from Piper species have been examined and found to be of clinical importance for both malignant and non-malignant diseases. They have displayed pronounced efficacy as anticancer, antitumour and antimicrobial agents in various pharmacological studies. They have been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimalarial activities. The alkaloids piperine, piperlongumine, guineensine, chabamide and pellitorine, which have been isolated from most Piper species, are able to inhibit the growth of cancer cell lines inducing apoptosis and acting as nuclear export inhibitors. These bioactive compounds can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs with minimal systemic toxicity to normal cells in cancer therapy. Pinoresinol, guineensine and other bioactive compounds from this species exhibited strong antimicrobial efficacy against various microorganisms including pathogenic Vibrio strains, which are often involved in host cell invasion during Vibrio cholera infection. The anticancer, antimicrobial and antimalarial properties of Piper species are compiled to support further exploration of their bioactive compounds for drug discovery. Biomedical and pharmacological discoveries concerning their anticancer and antimicrobial properties are highlighted here for further clinical applications, which could pave the way for the proper therapeutic use of bioactive compounds and extracts from this plant species.
The genus Thymus L. belongs to the Lamiaceae family, consist of about 215 species of herbaceous perennials and small shrubs in the world. They originated from Mediterranean region. This genus is presented in Iranian flora by 14 species, including: T. daenensis, T. carmanicus, T. fallax, T. persicus, T. trautvetteri, T. migricus, T. kotschyanus, T. pubesens, T. nummularius, T. transcaspicus, T. eriocalyx, T. caucasicus, T. transcaucasicus, and T. fedtschenkoi. Thyme is an aromatic and medicinal herb that has been widely used in folk medicine, food preservatives and pharmaceutical preparations. Overall, this genus is one of the most popular plants throughout the entire world due to its volatile constituents. Thymol and carvacrol are the major compounds in most of the Thymus essential oils. The therapeutic potential of thyme rests on contents of thymol, carvacrol, flavonoids, eugenol, aliphatic phenols as well as luteolin, saponins, and tetra methoxylated flavones. The essential oil of thyme has antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, anti-parasitic and antioxidant activity.
Current research efforts now focus on the development of non-toxic, inexpensive and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors as alternatives to different organic and non-organic compounds. In this field, alkaloids extract of Retama monosperma (L.) Boiss. seeds (AERS) was tested for the first time as corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 1 M HCl medium using electrochemical and surface characterization techniques. The obtained results showed that this plant extract's acts as an efficient corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 1 M HCl and an inhibition efficiency of 94.4% was reached with 400 mg/L of AERS at 30 °C. Ac impedance experimental data revealed a frequency distribution of the capacitance, simulated as constant phase element. Impedance results demonstrated that the addition of the AERS in the corrosive solution decreases the charge capacitance and simultaneously increases the function of the charge/discharge of the interface, facilitating the formation of an adsorbed layer over the steel surface. Polarization curves indicated that AERS is a mixed inhibitor. Adsorption of such alkaloid extract on the steel surface obeyed to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the inhibition of steel corrosion in normal hydrochloric solution by AERS is mainly controlled by a physisorption process and the inhibitive layer is composed of an iron oxide/hydroxide mixture where AERS molecules are incorporated.
Herbal medicines are currently in high demand, and their popularity is steadily increasing. Because of their perceived effectiveness, fewer side effects and relatively low cost, they are being used for the management of numerous medical conditions. However, they are capable of affecting the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of coadministered conventional drugs. These interactions are particularly of clinically relevance when metabolizing enzymes and xenobiotic transporters, which are responsible for the fate of many drugs, are induced or inhibited, sometimes resulting in unexpected outcomes. This article discusses the general use of herbal medicines in the management of several ailments, their concurrent use with conventional therapy, mechanisms underlying herb-drug interactions (HDIs) as well as the drawbacks of herbal remedy use. The authors also suggest means of surveillance and safety monitoring of herbal medicines. Contrary to popular belief that "herbal medicines are totally safe," we are of the view that they are capable of causing significant toxic effects and altered pharmaceutical outcomes when coadministered with conventional medicines. Due to the paucity of information as well as sometimes conflicting reports on HDIs, much more research in this field is needed. The authors further suggest the need to standardize and better regulate herbal medicines in order to ensure their safety and efficacy when used alone or in combination with conventional drugs.
Nature always stands as a golden mark to exemplify the outstanding phenomena of symbiosis. In the western world, as the people are becoming aware of the potency and side effect of synthetic drugs, there is an increasing interest in the natural product remedies with a basic approach towards the nature. Throughout the history of mankind, many infectious diseases have been treated with herbals. A number of scientific investigations have highlighted the importance and the contribution of many plant families i.e. Asteraceae, Liliaceae, Apocynaceae, Solanaceae, Caesalpinaceae, Rutaceae, Piperaceae, Sapotaceae used as medicinal plants. Medicinal plants play a vital role for the development of new drugs. The bioactive extract should be standardized on the basis of active compound. The bioactive extract should undergo safety studies. Almost, 70% modern medicines in India are derived from natural products. Medicinal plants play a central role not only as traditional medicines but also as trade commodities, meeting the demand of distant markets. India has a very small share (1.6%) of this ever-growing global market. To compete with the growing market, there is urgency to expeditiously utilize and scientifically validate more medicinally useful plants.
Thymus satureioides Coss. & Ball. (Th. satureioides) is an endemic thyme of Morocco. Thirty two samples of wild T. satureioides were collected from High Atlas Mountains (Valley of Agoundis). The essential oils (EO) isolated by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The yield of EO ranged from 0.2 to 2.3%. Twenty six components, representing more than 95% of the oil, were fully characterized. Borneol was the main constituent. Its proportion varied between 22.7 and 37.5%. Cluster analysis of the identified components grouped the samples into three main chemotypes, borneol/carvacrol (B/Ca), borneol/camphene/carvacrol (B/C/Ca) and borneol/camphene/α-pinene (B/C/P). Other constituents were identified in significant amounts: α-terpineol (3.1 to 10.6%), 3-carene (1.5 to 10.5%) and p-cymene (2.3 to 8%). The fresh matter productivity average of T. satureioides was around 1.3 t/ha, revealing low potential of exploitation for collectors. This study has shown that the thyme growing in the valley of Agoundis is dominated by borneol chemotypes, showing different level of essential oil yield, according to locations and/or genotyes within general low potential of biomass production.
Key words: Thymus satureioides, Agoundis Valley, matter productivity, GC-MS, essential oil, borneol, carvacrol.
Medicinal plants play a vital role for the development of new drugs. The bioactive extract should be standardized on the basis of active compound. The bioactive extract should undergo safety studies. Almost, 70% modern medicines in India are derived from natural products. Medicinal plants play a central role not only as traditional medicines but also as trade commodities, meeting the demand of distant markets. Camphor is familiar to many people as a principal ingredient in topical home remedies for a wide range of symptoms, and its use is well consolidated among the population of the whole world, having a long tradition of use as antiseptic, antipruritic, rubefacient, abortifacient, aphrodisiac, contraceptive and lactation suppressant. This compound has also a long history of scientific studies on its action and on the way through which it is metabolized in the organisms of both humans and animals, due to the general interest that it has always arisen among common people and scientists.
Reaction of iodofluoroacetates with alkenes and zinc in the presence of nickel dichloride hexahydrate and pyridine in THF affords the corresponding α-fluoroesters in good yields.