Journal of Natural Product Research and Applications

Insomnia and therapeutic alternatives: Survey on the use of phytotherapy by the northern Algerian population

Naouel Bouderbala * — 2024-09-21

The number of people suffering from sleep disorders is constantly increasing over the years. To preserve their health and avoid the use of conventional drugs (addiction, undesirable effects, toxicity, etc.), phytotherapy remains a good alternative. This study aims to identify the medicinal plants used by the Algerian population to treat sleep disorders. This was an ethnobotanical survey carried out using an electronic questionnaire concerning the population and their knowledge of the medicinal plants used, followed by bibliographical research on the plants mentioned. 197 people from the north of Algeria took part in this study, which revealed the use of 33 medicinal plants and 7 herbal products to regulate sleep or improve its quality. The use of medicinal plants is widespread in Algeria, prompting researchers to carry out various phytochemical and pharmacological studies to ensure their efficacy and detect any interactions (plants/drugs), adverse effects or toxicity.

Investigation of the preliminary compounds; Assessing the antioxidant and in-vitro antibacterial activities of Inula confertiflora leaf extracts

Abere HABTAMU*, Esubalew MEKU — 2024-09-21

Medicinal plants, from those traditionally utilized by healers in underdeveloped nations to those employed in the manufacturing of contemporary synthetic medications worldwide, are essential in the treatment of a wide range of illnesses. Ethiopians have long utilized the leaves of Inula confertiflora plants to treat diseases pertaining to the skin and eyes. This encouraged us to look at the yield of crudes extracted using various polar index solvents, look at the existence of precursor compounds in the plant's leaf sections, and evaluate the ability of preliminary compounds to scavenge free radicals from DPPH and their antibacterial properties against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains. Following the extraction processes of the plant soaking, filtering, and concentrating the crudes, the highest yield of crude was produced by ethanol in moderately polar solvents (3.64 mg) water with a higher polarity index (5.74 mg) and acetone in lower polar solvents (6.28 mg), which produced a relatively lower yield. The UV-Vis spectroscopic results of the ethanol extracts showed they contained a wide range of preliminary bioactive functional groups, like phenols and flavonoids, and their derivative compounds. Additionally, the ethanol extracts' inhibition zone was marginally higher than that of the water and acetone extracts', indicating that the preliminary compounds extracted in a higher polar solvent—water—and a moderate polar solvent—acetone—were obtained in the ethanol extracts. In conclusion, the presence of higher total content of the phenolic and flavonoids, higher radical scavenging efficiency in DPPH solution, and greater zone of inhibition in-vitro antibacterial activities displayed by the preliminary compounds extracted by ethanol and water extracted from the leaf of I. confertiflora corroborate the traditional uses by the local people against various diseases.

Effect of Citrullus colocynthis oil on the lipid profile of obese male rats

2024-09-21

Citrullus colocynthis is a plant of the cucurbitaceae family native to arid soils. It contains around 17℅ of oil, rich in essential polyunsaturated fatty acids with regulatory powers for certain metabolic pathologies such as hypercholesterolemia. The aim of this work is to test the effect of colocynth oil (CO) on hepatic lipids in Wistar rats fed hyper-fatty diets supplemented with (CO), compared with other rats fed control diets based on 8 ℅ sunflower oil (SO). To this end, male Wistar rats weighing 80±5g were divided into four batches. The rats were fed different diets (R) for 2 months (D1: 16℅ casein + 8℅ SO, D2: 16℅ casein+ 8℅ CO, D3: 16℅ casein+ 30℅ fat+ 8℅ SO, D4: 16℅ casein+ 30℅ fat+ 8℅ CO), the weights of the rats and the quantity of food ingested were taken daily, at the end of the diet the rats were dissected and the livers recovered for hepatic lipid assays using the folch method. The results showed a reduction in triglycerides in the liver of rats fed diets containing oil of colocynth (37%) and reduced blood triglyceride (12%) and cholesterol (6%), whereas rats fed high-fat diets had elevated hepatic and blood lipid levels. Colocynth oil has a corrective and/or protective effect on obesity and its complications by preventing the accumulation of fat in the liver, thereby preventing hepatic steatosis.

In silico study of the biological properties of four sterols identified in Anabasis articulata plant

Waffa Abdelmoumene, Asmaa Dich1 — 2024-10-19

The search for novel therapeutics with diverse pharmacological activities has led to increased interest in natural products. In this investigation, we aim to explore the potential medicinal properties of four sterol-type molecules found in the medicinal plant Anabasis articulata (Forssk) using in silico methods. The molecules of interest are cholestanol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and 26-hydroxycholesterol. To assess their therapeutic potential, we employ several theoretical methods. Firstly, molecular docking simulations are utilized to model the interactions between these molecules and target proteins associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neurodegenerative effects. The selected targets include Xanthine Oxidase (XO) for antioxidant activity, Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) for anti-inflammatory effects, Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ERα) for anti-cancer properties, and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) for neurodegenerative disorders. Visual analysis of these docking results aid in understanding the binding modes and potential mechanisms of action. Furthermore, we predict ADMET pharmacokinetic parameters and physicochemical properties to evaluate the drug-likeness of the compounds. Our findings reveal promising interactions between the sterol-type molecules and target proteins associated with various therapeutic effects. Furthermore, through rigorous evaluation of drug-likeness rules, we identify compounds with favorable structural and physicochemical characteristics for potential drug development. This comprehensive computational approach offers valuable insights into the medicinal properties of Anabasis articulataderived sterol-type molecules, paving the way for further experimental validation and pharmaceutical exploration.