Boumedienne Meddah’s research while affiliated with University Mustapha Stambouli of Mascara and other places

The oxidation by ozone is considered as being an effective solution and offers irrefutable advantages in wastewater treatment. Ozone is used to treat different types of water due to its effectiveness in water purification and for its oxidation potential. This process of ozonation becomes progressively as an alternative technology and is inscribed in a sustainable development perspective, in particular in Algeria, where other conventional techniques of treatment are used in comparison to the latter, which is often used in Europe. Our work describes this process of treatment using the ozone produced by dielectric barrier discharges (DBD), which are fed by a high voltage of several thousands of volts. So, we conceived and accomplished a new generator of ozone DBD of cylindrical form, which will be used for wastewater treatment (WWTP) of Mascara, west of Algeria. Our experimental results have revealed the effectiveness of this type of treatment on the basis of physicochemical analysis (pH, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand and oxidable matter) and bacteriological (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella) upstream and downstream of the WWTP which presents a very high rate of elimination of all the parameters, particularly for the turbidity and bacteria in a very effective manner.

become a major public health concern in Algeria. The aim of the present study was to estimate cancer incidence in Mascara Province based on the population-based cancer registry. We analyzed data from the cancer registry of Mascara covering all cancer cases diagnosed by all methods and included in the registry from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2010. The results are presented as incidence rates of cases by site, sex, age, and crude rate. Agestandardized rates per 100,000 person-years (ASRs) were calculated, using the direct method of standardization to the world population. A total of 1875 cases of invasive cancer were recorded. The mean age of diagnosis for all cancers was 52.66 ± 0.5 in men and 59.18 ± 0.6 in women. The ASR for all cancers in females was 27.8 per 100,000, and that for males was 23.6 per 100,000. The most important finding of the present study was the high incidence of liver cancer among males and females in Mascara. Among females, breast cancer was the most frequently reported followed by Cervix uteri, liver and colon. The most frequent cancer types in males were lung, colon, esophagus and stomach and liver. Cancer incidence in Mascara province was lower than that reported in other national and regional registries. Findings of the present study revealed high incidence of liver cancer in the province, the highest in Algeria, suggesting high prevalence of risk factors.

Aristolochia longa is widely used in traditional medicine in Algeria to treat breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the response of bone resorption markers to A. longa intake by Algerian breast cancer postmenopausal women. According to the A. longa intake, breast cancer patients were grouped into A. longa group (Al) (n = 54) and non-A. longa group (non-Al) (n = 24). 32 women constituted the control group. Bone resorption markers (from urine) pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) were determined by HPLC. Serum and urinary creatinine, uric acid, and urea were measured. 1 g of A. longa intake resulted in significant rise of renal serum markers and a pronounced increase of bone resorption markers. The intake of A. longa roots is detrimental for kidney function and resulted in high bone resorption, maybe due to the reduction in renal function caused by the aristolochic acids contained in the roots.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of 10 honey samples produced in Algeria. The samples were prepared using the methodology described by Louveaux and co-workers. Honeys were considered to be monofloral whenever the dominant pollen was found to be over 45% of total pollen. The results obtained in the present study show the variability of the honey samples. The botanical families Myrtaceae, Rutaceae and Lamiaceae are most frequently found. The identified pollen spectrum of honey confirmed their botanical origin.

A pollen analysis of Algerian honey was conducted on a total of 10 honey samples. The samples were prepared using the methodology described by Louveaux et al., that was then further adapted by Ohe et al. The samples were subsequently observed using light microscopy. A total of 36 pollen taxa were discovered and could be identified in the analyzed honey samples. Seventy percent of the studied samples belonged to the group ofmonofloral honeys represented by Eucalyptus globulus, Thymus vulgaris, Citrus sp. and Lavandula angustifolia. Multifloral honeys comprised 30% of the honey samples, with pollen grains of Lavandula stoechas (28.49%) standing out as the most prevalent. Based on cluster analysis, two different groups of honey were observed according to different pollen types found in the samples. The identified pollen spectrum of honey confirmed their botanical origin.

The genus Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae) consists of approximately 500 species, most of which are found in tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean regions. Plants of the genus Aristolochia have been shown to exhibit interesting biological activities including cytotoxic, apoptosis-induced, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiallergic activities, among other.

Bryonia dioica Jacq. is a climbing perennial herb with tuberous roots which is widely used in traditional medicine in Algeria for the treatment of cancers; it belongs to the genus Bryonia (Cucurbitaceae). To investigate the cytotoxic and apoptogenic activities, the phytochemical composition and acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of Bryonia dioica roots growing in Algeria. Dried roots of Bryonia dioica were extracted with water (decoction). The cytotoxic effects of the aqueous extract in the Burkitt's lymphoma BL41 cell lines were evaluated by flow cytometry. Apoptosis induction was assessed by two corroborative assays; propidium iodide (PI) staining of cell DNA and flow cytometric light scatter analysis. The mitochondria membrane potential was investigated using a fluorescent dye DIOC6. The expression of caspases-3, -8, -9 and PARP was assessed by Western blot. The phytochemical screening of the roots of Bryonia dioica was performed using qualitative phytochemical standard procedures. The Bryonia dioica aqueous extract induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 of Bryonia dioica aqueous extract was estimated to be approximately 15, 63μg/ml. This was accompanied by induction of apoptosis, activation of caspase-3 and -9, cleavage of PARP and loss of mitochondria membrane potential. Furthermore, the phytochemical screening of roots of Bryonia dioica showed the presence of various bioactive such as polyphenols, sterols and triterpenes, alkaloids, c-heterosides, carbohydrates and saponins. The aqueous extract of Bryonia dioica induces apoptosis in the Burkitt's lymphoma BL41 cell lines via the mitochondrial pathway. The flavonoids, sterols and triterpens detected could be responsible for the cytotoxic and apoptogenic activities of the aqueous extract of Bryonia dioica. These findings suggest that Bryonia dioica could be considered as a promising source for developing novel therapeutics against Burkitt's lymphoma.

Aristolochia longa (from the family Aristolochiaceae) is widely used for cancer treatment in Algerian traditional medicine. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptogenic activities. The phytochemical composition and acute toxicity of aqueous extracts of the roots of A. longa from Algeria. An aqueous extract (decoction) of dried A. longa roots was prepared. The cytotoxic effects of this aqueous extract were then evaluated in Burkitt's lymphoma BL41 cells, by flow cytometry. The induction of apoptosis was assessed in two corroborative assays: The propidium iodide staining of cell DNA and flow cytometry analyses of light scattering. Mitochondrial membrane potential was investigated with the fluorescent dye DIOC6. The expression and activation of capases-3, -8 and -9 were assessed by Western blotting. Acute oral toxicity was evaluated with a test dose limited to 5000 mg/kg. Phytochemical screening of A. longa roots was performed with standard qualitative procedures. The aqueous extract of A. longa induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 of A. longa aqueous extract was estimated at about 15,63 μg/ml. The extract-induced apoptosis, a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and the activation of caspases-9 and -3 followed by PARP cleavage. A. longa could therefore be considered a promising source of novel treatments for Burkitt's and other lymphomas.

Aristolochia clematitis est l‟une des plantes les plus utilisées ces dernières années en pharmacopée locale, alors que le gingembre (Zingiber officinalis) plante importée connait ces dernières années une propagation sans précédent surtout comme boisson consommée à la place du thé en Algérie. Notre travail consistait à étudier l‟effet des huiles de ces sur certains paramètres biochimiques chez les rats wistar (sexe féminin). Les huiles des deux plantes obtenues par hydrodistillation ont été administrées aux rats Wistar par deux injections intra péritonéales espacées d‟une semaine. Trois lots de cinq rats chacun ont été utilisés pour chaque plante recevant les doses de 20 ; 50 et 100 mg/kg. Deux lots témoins ont été également utilisés. Nos résultats ont montré que l‟Aristoloche (Aristolochia clematitis) était la plus nuisible à la fonction rénale, et ce quelque soient les doses administrées. Une augmentation significative des taux de créatinine sanguine en fonction du nombre de doses injectées a été observée, ainsi pour chaque groupe traité, l‟augmentation des taux de créatinine était significative après la deuxième injection, si on le comparait à celui enregistré après la première injection. Nos résultats ont montré également qu‟après la 1ère injection, les rats ayant reçu l‟huile du gingembre (Zingiber officinalis) à la dose de 50 et 100 mg/Kg avaient des taux significativement élevés de créatinine par rapport aux rats du groupe contrôle. Particulièrement, les rats ayant reçu la dose de 100 mg/Kg avaient des taux de créatinine 10 fois plus élevés par rapport aux rats témoins et environs 4.5 par rapport à ceux des groupes 1 et 2. Ces résultats montrent un probable effet nephrotoxique passager de l‟huile de Zingiber officinalis qui serait « réactionnel » à la 1ère injection. En conclusion, les huiles essentielles d‟Aristolochia clematitis seraient à l‟origine d‟une insuffisance rénale progressive due, probablement, à l‟action des acides aristolochiques, alors que celles de Zingiber officinalis le seraient pour la dose de 100 mg/kg. Notre étude vient corroborer l‟hypothèse des néphropathies dues aux acides aristolochiques et tire l‟attention sur les possibles effets néfastes de Zingiber officinalis en cas d‟abus de consommation.

Notre conférence est une revue critique de littérature scientifique récente sur les possibles utilisations des polyamines dans le diagnostic des différents cancers, ainsi que dans la thérapie anticancéreuse.