Abdeslam Et-Touys

Screening of Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Antileishmanial Activities of Salvia officinalis L. Extracts from Morocco

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of organic extracts from Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) collected in the province of Ouezzane. Study Design: Evaluation of in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of extracts and determination phenolic contents. Place and Duration of Study: After plant collection from the Province of Ouezzane, further work was carried out in Parasitology Laboratory of the National Institute of health and Laboratory of Original Research Article Et-Touys et al.; BMRJ, 16(5): 1-10, 2016; Article no.BMRJ.28307 2 Biochemistry-Immunology, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco from Novembre 2015 to Mai 2016. Methodology: The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH scavanging assay. The antibacterial activity was tested against three reference strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes serovar) by the diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by microtitration assay. The antiparasitic activity was tested against Leishmania major using MTT (3(4.5-dimethylthiazol2yl) -2.5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The levels of polyphenols and flavonoids extracts were estimated by colorimetric assay. Results: The methanol extract has shown a significant ability to trap the radical DPPH (IC50=65.655 μg/ml) compared to n-hexane and ethanol extracts. This value is higher than that of ascorbic acid (13.198 μg/ml) and Trolox (22.484 μg/ml) used as standards. The three extracts tests revealed the inhibitory power of three bacterial strains with a significant difference in the diameters of inhibition. The largest area was registered by the hexane and methanol extracts against S. aureus (22±8 mm), while the weakest area was 11±0.22 mm expressed by the ethanol extract against E. coli and the methanol extract against L. monocytogenes. The antileishmanial activity was moderate with a value of cytotoxicity (IC50) above 1 mg / ml. The extracts showed high concentrations of polyphenols and flavonoids, while biological activities were not very high when correlated with these levels. Conclusion: These results will be completed by the determination of the active component and the extracts will be tested on other biological systems namely antifungal and antitumor activities.

In vitro Antileishmanial Activity of Extracts from Endemic Moroccan Medicinal Plant Salvia verbenaca (L.) Briq. ssp verbenaca Maire (S. clandestina Batt. non L)

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the antileishmanial activities of organic extracts (methanol, n-hexane and dichloromethane extract) from Salvia clandestina (Lamiaceae) used in Moroccan medicinal plant. Study Design: Evaluation of in vitro antileishmanial activity of extracts and determination phenolic contents. Original Research Article Et-Touys et al.; EJMP, 16(1): 1-8, 2016; Article no.EJMP.27891 2 Place and Duration of Study: After plant collection from the region of Rabat-Morocco, further work was carried out in Parasitology Laboratory of the National Institute of health and Laboratory of Biochemistry-Immunology, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco from February 2015 to march 2016. Methodology: The plant was extracted using organic solvents and using Soxhlet. The antileishmanial activity of extracts was tested against three leishmanial strains, Leishmania major, Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum in their promatigotes form, using MTT assay. The total phenolic content was assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteau assay and total flavonoid content was assessed by aluminium chloride (AlCl3) colorimetric assay. Results: The MTT based colorimetric assay showed reduced promastigotes viability on the all strains tested. The best growth inhibition was observed with n-hexane and dichloromethane extracts of Salvia clandestina (IC50≤ 155.43 μg/ml) compared to N-methyl glucamine antimoniate (Glucantime®) (IC50>1000μg/ml) used as control, after 72 h of treatment. Phenolic content of S. clandestina extracts ranged between 107.52±3.12 and 74.41±4.96 mg GAE/g extract, and the flavonoid content ranged between 24.64±3.65 and 16.31±3.69 mg QE/g extract. Conclusion: The current investigation reveals that S. clandestina extracts possess activity against three Leishmania species. S. clandestina need further investigation so that the pure bioactive antileishmanial compounds should be isolated with cost effective, promising results and less side effects.

Origanum compactum Benth: A Review on Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties

Origanum compactum Benth (O. compactum) is an important aromatic and medicinal plant in Morocco. It use as a culinary condiment and largely employed in popular medicine for the treatment of ailments. Several studies recently conducted have demonstrated that O. compactum posses an antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-mutagenic, cytotoxic, anticancer, and anti-corrosion activities. Phytochemical investigations of this genus have resulted in the extraction of a number of important bioactive compounds. This emphasizes on the need of extensive study for reporting the additional information on mechanism of action of this effects.

In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Organic Extracts from North-West Moroccan Medicinal Plant Myrtus communis (L.)

Aims: This study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extract from the leaves of Myrtus communis (L.) growing in North-West of Morocco. Study Design: In vitro evaluating of antibacterial activity and determination of total phenols and flavonoids content of extracts. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biology (Faculty of Sciences), between July 2015 and November 2015. Methodology: The total phenol content and flavonoids content of methanol, ethanol, ethyl-acetate and n-hexane extracts were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method and Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) colorimetric method respectively. The antibacterial activity of extracts was tested against Original Research Article Bouyahya et al.; BJI, 16(4): xxx-xxx, 2016; Article no.BJI.28500 2 five reference strains, Escherichia coli K12 MBLA, Staphylococcus aureus CECT 976, Listeria monocytogenes serovar 4b CECT 4032 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa IH using the agar well diffusion method and the micro-dilution assays. Results: The amount of the total phenolic content and total flavonoid content ranged between 86,31-137,46 gallic acid equivalents (GAE mg/g) and 14,31±1,09–31,24 quercetin equivalents (QE mg/g) of dry weight of extract, respectively. All extracts had a significant antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains. The biggest zones of inhibition were observed against two positive bacteria (L. monocytogenes, S. aureus). While, Gram negative bacteria (E. coli K12, P. aeruginosa) had showed to be resistant toward extracts. Conclusion: Considering these results, M. communis leaves can be used as a source of novel antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds.

Comparative evaluation of immunochromatographic dipstick test (ICT) rk39, soluble antigen ELISA and IFAT for the sero-diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Morocco

A rapid, sensitive and specific tool for detection of Leishmania infantum infection in Humans would be highly desirable, because it would allow control interventions in endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis. This study was carried out at the Reference National Laboratory of Leishmaniasis (RNLL) in National Institute of Hygiene (NIH) Morocco, in order to evaluate the diagnostic potential of immunochromatographic dipstick test (ICT) rk39 in Moroccan suspected VL patients. A total of 49 admitted patients with strong clinical suspicion of VL and 40 healthy controls were investigated for the performance of the ICT rk39. Bone marrow smears were examined for microscopic detection of Leishmania amastigotes obtained from the admitted patients. Only PCR and smear positive cases were considered as gold standard as well as confirmed cases of VL. Out of 49 suspected patients, twenty four (48.9%) were found PCR and smear-positive and twenty three (46.9%) were positive for ICT rk39. Voluntary healthy controls, which included twenty persons from the endemic zone and twenty from non-endemic zone of VL, were found all negative for the strip test. The sensitivity in sera was 75% by ELISA and 87.5% by IFAT, compared with 95.8% for ICT rk39. Specificity was 95.8%, with both tests ELISA and IFAT, and 100% by ICT rk39 respectively. Present study findings again reinforce that the ICT rk39 is a simple, reliable and easy-to-perform non-invasive diagnostic tool for visceral leishmaniasis in the endemic area of Morocco.