Ezzeddine Saadaoui

The caper (Capparis L.): Ethnopharmacology, phytochemical and pharmacological properties

Caper (Capparis L.), a shrub plant with a large natural distribution, is used in traditional medicines to cure various illnesses. Phytochemicals studies have shown the presence of many beneficial compounds such as spermidine, rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, stigmasterol, campesterol, tocopherols, and carotenoids. Biological studies reveal important antimicrobial, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiviral properties. The presented review summarizes information concerning the morphology, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and biological activities of caper plants.

Carotenoid and Tocopherol Composition of Leaves, Buds, and Flowers of Capparis spinosa Grown Wild in Tunisia

High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein, neoxanthin, and violaxanthin) and tocopherols of leaves, buds, and flowers of Tunisian Capparis spinosa. This plant shows strong resistance to hard environmental conditions, and it is one of the most commonly found aromatics in the Mediterranean kitchen. In this study, the means of the total carotenoids were 3452.5 +/- 1639.4, 1002 +/- 518.5, and 342.7 +/- 187.9 microg/g fresh weight (FW) in leaves, buds, and flowers, respectively. Lutein accounts for the high content. Violaxanthin provided the lowest portion of the total carotenoids. The principal form of tocopherol detected in leaves was alpha-tocopherol (20.19 +/- 10 mg/100 g FW). In buds and flowers, there were both alpha- (49.12 +/- 17.48 and 28.68 +/- 9.13 mg/100 g FW, respectively) and gamma-tocopherol (48.13 +/- 15.08 and 27.8 +/- 16.01 mg/100 g FW, respectively). The combined content of pro-vitamin A and vitamin E in capers encourages researchers to more explore and find developments for this plant.

Phytochemicals and antioxidant activities of Rhus tripartitum (Ucria) fruits depending on locality and different stages of maturity

The phytochemical content (total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, condensed tannins and phenolic composition) and the antioxidant potential of Rhus tripartitum fruits collected from different localities were screened during maturity. Significant variability was detected. HPLC analyses revealed the presence of 24 compounds with notable differences. Flavone and betulinic acid, which have numerous benefits, were the main detected compounds (more than 73%). This work highlights the importance of R. tripartitum fruits as dietary sources of natural antioxidants, and might be appropriate for the development of reliable index to estimate fruit richness with bioactive molecules.

Intraspecific Variation of Capparis spinosa L. in Tunisia

An analysis of caper (Capparis spinosa L.) variability in Tunisia using morphological descriptors revealed intraspecific diversity. This diversity was relatively high in the prickly caper but relatively low for inermis and shaggy types that formed one homogenous group. All studied descriptors showed discriminative power and enabled classification of the studied accessions in two morphotypes: one prickly and one that included the inermis and downy caper. The later morphotype is characterized by creeping shoots and relatively large leaves, low stomatal density, and high numbers of stamens. The heterogeneous prickly group is characterized by erect shoots and relatively small leaves, high stomatal density, and a small numbers of stamens.

Phosphogypsum: potential uses and problems – a review

Abstract Phosphogypsum (PG: CaSO4·2H2O) is a waste product generated by the phosphate industry. World production of this waste exceeds 200 million tonnes per year. PG, discharged into the sea, watercourses or in wilderness stocks, contains toxic elements harmful to ecosystems and human health, including heavy metals and radionuclides, and there is therefore a concern regarding environmental impacts. The concentrations of these elements vary between the regions and the processes used, all of which require particular and specific follow-up after the release of PG and during its use. Phosphogypsum is used in agriculture for soil amendment or as fertilizer, as well as in the brick and cement industry, and in road construction.

Updated Methods for Seed Shape Analysis

Morphological variation in seed characters includes differences in seed size and shape. Seed shape is an important trait in plant identification and classification. In addition it has agronomic importance because it reflects genetic, physiological, and ecological components and affects yield, quality, and market price. The use of digital technologies, together with development of quantification and modeling methods, allows a better description of seed shape. Image processing systems are used in the automatic determination of seed size and shape, becoming a basic tool in the study of diversity. Seed shape is determined by a variety of indexes (circularity, roundness, and J index). The comparison of the seed images to a geometrical figure (circle, cardioid, ellipse, ellipsoid, etc.) provides a precise quantification of shape. The methods of shape quantification based on these models are useful for an accurate description allowing to compare between genotypes or along developmental phases as well as to establish the level of variation in different sets of seeds.

Assessment of phosphogypsum use in a nursery for plant propagation

Abstract Phosphogypsum (PG) was used as substrate for the multiplication of eight ornamental species; six by cuttings and two by sowing. The results obtained showed a high rooting or percent germination for the six plants: Ficus benjamina, Pelargonium × Hortorum, Washingtonia filifera, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Hibiscus rosa sinensis and Acalypha wilkesiana. For a percentage of 50% PG, only F. benjamina, H. rosa sinensis and W. filifera showed high percentage rooting. Plant vigour (height and biomass) depends on both species and treatment. Two species showed high sensitivity to PG during the propagation by cuttings, Nerium oleander and Myoporum laetum. We observed high variation in substrate characteristics; with 50% PG, pH was increased from 2.84 to 6.22, and electrical conductivity (EC) and gypsum concentration were reduced from 15.56 to 4.23 mS/cm from 36.23 to 11.82%, respectively. The results showed the possibility of using PG in nurseries for the multiplication and fertilization of several forest and ornamental plant species by cuttings and sowing.

Allelopathic Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Ricinus communis L. on the Germination of Six Cultivated Species

Aims: The effect of aqueous extracts of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) On the germination of six cultivated crops was investigated. Study Design: Samples of R. communis were harvested from the region of Gabès (south of Tunisia) and tested at laboratory on crops seeds. Place and Duration of Study: Regional station of GabèsNational Institute of Research in Rural Engineering, Waters and Forests – Tunisia, between October and December 2014. Methodology: Extracts were obtained after an incubation of 9 g of dry plant material (powder) in 100 ml distilled water during 48 hours at 60°C. The extraction was made from five parts of R. communis (root, twig, leaf, seed and pericarp) and used in germination tests. Results and Conclusion: Results showed two types of behavior: the aqueous extracts of root, Short Research Article Saadaoui et al.; IJPSS, 7(4): 220-227, 2015; Article no.IJPSS.2015.148 221 twig, and seed had a low effect of inhibition for all studied species. The aqueous extracts of leaf and pericarp had a high effect of inhibition. C. olitorius is the most tolerant species; its germination rate is 99, 99, 97, 96, 69.5 and 53.5% for aqueous extracts of root, twig, seed, leaf and pericarp respectively. L. culinaris is the most sensitive species; its rate of germination is 97, 68.5, 44, 3 and 0% for aqueous extracts of root, twig, seed, leaf and pericarp respectively. Leaf and pericarp aqueous extracts are the most inhibitive of germination resulting in germination rates lower than 16.5% for all studied species, except for C. olitorius, its germination rate is 69.5 and 53.5% with pericarp and leaf extract respectively. The aqueous extracts of R. communis inhibited root length in all studied species, essentially with the aqueous extracts of leaf and pericarp. These two parts of R. communis showed high allelopathy effect in percentage of germination and root length for all studied species.

Semillas de Ricinus comunis recogidas en doce poblaciones en Túnez

Images of the seeds were obtained with a scanner ScanJet 5300 C (HP). A list attached includes exact locations where seeds were gathered. This dataset is under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non commercial 4.0 International License.

An overview of adaptative responses to drought stress in Eucalyptus spp.

Abstract Eucalyptus is a plant frequently present and cultivated in arid regions because of its high adaptation to drought. Furthermore, it is known by its numerous species which represents a great opportunity to choose several tolerant species with variable uses. Therefore, the choice of species, hybrids or genotypes resistant to aridity becomes a necessity before any plantation in regions and countries characterized by semi-arid, arid and Saharan climates. Our review shows an important effect of drought on anatomical, physiological and biochemical parameters of Eucalyptus spp. Indeed, water stress acts directly on growth, yield and response to pests. However, the response to drought varies significantly among species, genotypes, hybrids and clones. This result represents a field for the selection of eucalypts tolerant and adapted to water deficit or climate change.