Saida Triki

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.

Phenolic compounds and vitamin antioxidants of caper (Capparis spinosa).

Capparis spinosa shows strong resistance to the adverse Mediterranean conditions and it has nutritional and medicinal value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contents of total phenolic compounds, rutin, tocopherols, carotenoids and vitamin C in leaves and flower buds of C. spinosa from different locations in Tunisia. Results showed the richness of caper with these compounds, especially phenolic compounds. Interestingly, it was also found the presence of both α- and γ-tocopherol in buds. Moreover, C. spinosa contained an appreciable level of vitamin C. The significant amounts of these antioxidants confirm the nutritional and medicinal value of caper.

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.

Morphological evaluation of cork oak (Quercus suber): Mediterranean provenance variability in Tunisia

Twenty-six provenances (2 340 plants) of cork oak (Quercus suber spp.) originating from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia were tested for genetic variation among and within provenances by growth traits. Seven morphometrical characters were measured in 90 plants from each provenance. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences for all characters. The phenotypic coefficient of differentiation reached 0.24 for the form and 0.22 for height, thus revealing a strong structuring between the provenances. Comparative study of growth among the provenances revealed more vigorous growth and better survival rate for those from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, which may constitute better materials for afforestation. Furthermore, this variability appeared to be geographically structured and would be mainly genetically controlled, as cork oak provenances were cultivated under the same environmental conditions. Our results should be helpful for guide forest managers in afforestation.RésuméLa variabilité génétique inter et intra-provenances a été étudiée pour des caractères de croissance chez Quercus suber spp. 26 provenances (2 340 individus) de chêne liège originaires d’Espagne, du Portugal, d’Italie, du Maroc, d’Algérie et de la Tunisie ont été implantées et testées. Sept caractères morphométriques, jugés discriminants, ont été mesurés chez 90 individus par provenance. L’analyse statistique des résultats a montré des différences hautement significatives entre ces provenances. Le plus haut coefficient de différentiation Qst est trouvé pour les caractères forme (0,24 %) et hauteur (0,22 %). L’étude comparative a en outre révélé une croissance plus vigoureuse associée à une moindre mortalité chez les provenances originaires du Portugal, d’Espagne et du Maroc, leur conférant ainsi un intérêt potentiel pour le reboisement. La variabilité observée chez le chêne liège apparaît structurée selon l’origine géographique et serait essentiellement de nature génétique, puisque toutes les provenances ont été cultivées dans les mêmes conditions pédoclimatiques.

Fatty acid composition of two Tunisian pine seed oils.

Oils were extracted from fully ripen Pinus pinea L. and Pinus halepensisMill seeds and fatty acid composition has been established by capillary gas chromatography. Seeds are rich in lipids, 34.63–48.12% on a dry weight basis. Qualitatively, fatty acid composition of both species is identical. For P. halepensis linoleic acid is the major fatty acid (56.06% of total fatty acids) followed by oleic (24.03%) and palmitic (5.23%) acids. For P. pinea, the same fatty acids are found with the proportions 47.28%, 36.56%, and 6.67%, respectively. Extracted fatty acids from both species are mainly unsaturated, respectively, 89.87% and 88.01%. Pinus halepensis cis‐5 olefinic acids are more abundant (7.84% compared to 2.24%). Results will be important as a good indication of the potential nutraceutical value of Pinus seeds as new sources of fruit oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and cis‐5 olefinic acids.

Minor lipid components of some Acacia species: potential dietary health benefits of the unexploited seeds

BackgroundOilseed samples from four Acacia species ( A. cyclops, A. ligulata, A. salicina and A. cyanophylla) were analyzed in order to evaluate the potential nutritional value of their unexploited seeds.MethodsSamples were collected from different Tunisian geographic locations. Seed oils were extracted and carotenoids, tocopherols and sterols were analyzed using chromatographic methods.ResultsThe studied Acacia seeds seem to be quite rich in lipids (from 6% to 12%). All Acacia species contain mainly the xanthophylls zeaxanthin and lutein compounds: from ca. 38 mg.kg-1 of total lipids (A. cyclops) to ca. 113 mg.kg-1 of total lipids (A. cyanophylla). Total tocopherols varied from ca. 221 mg.kg-1 of total lipids (A. cyclops) to ca. 808 mg.kg-1 of total lipids (A. ligulata). Sterols are highly present and their contents ranged between ca. 7 g. kg-1 of total lipids (A. salicina) and 11 g. kg-1 of total lipids (A. cyclops).ConclusionThis study highlights that these unexploited seeds might have a potential nutritional value and encourages researchers to more explore and find developments for these plants for healthy purposes.

Chemical compounds from Phoenician juniper berries (Juniperus phoenicea)

Natural chemical compounds are a widely researched topic worldwide because of their potential activity against cerebrovascular diseases. Chemicals from Juniperus phoenicea berries are reported in this study. Lipids (11%) from seeds are mainly unsaturated (86%). Minerals are also quantified like Na (63.8 mg per 100 g DW) or K (373.9 mg per 100 g DW). Total reduced sugars are ca 192.6 mg g−1 DW. Polyphenols and flavonoids from berries are highly present with an average of 1764 ± 174.3 mg gallic acid per 100 g DW and 890 ± 47.6 mg rutin per 100 g DW, respectively. Mean free radical scavenging activities, determined by DPPH and ABTS, are 1337 ± 126.2 mM TEAC per 100 g DW and 1105.7 ± 95.9 mM TEAC per 100 g DW, respectively. All findings improve the possible presence of biologically active fractions in phytocomplex that could be used as such and/or extracted for the formulation of supplements and/or ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry.

High tocopherol and triacylglycerol contents in Pinuspinea L. seeds

Oleaginous seeds are among the functional foods most recognized for their tocopherols and triacylglycerols because of their role in lipid metabolism. In this paper, the tocopherol and triacylglycerol contents in seeds of several Pinus pinea L. populations around the Mediterranean Basin were investigated. Lipids were extracted from fully ripen seeds with petroleum ether. The tocopherol (α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and δ-tocopherol) contents were, respectively, 15.34±3.75 ppm, 1,681.75±404.03 ppm and 41.87±9.79 ppm. Lipids (mainly triacylglycerols) in P. pinea seeds averaged 48% on a dry weight basis. Triacylglycerols with an equivalent carbon number of 44 (32.27%) and of 46 (30.91%) were dominant. The major triacylglycerol was LLO (24.06%). Tocopherols and triacylglycerols were present at remarkably high levels, thus making P. pinea oil a valuable source of antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids with varying levels across the geographical range of P. pinea.

Biosynthesis of triacylglycerols by developing sunflower seed microsomes

Abstract In order to elucidate the biochemical pathway involved in the formation of plant triacylglycerols rich in C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids, microsomes from developing sunflower cotyledons were incubated with [1- 14 C ]oleate or [1- 14 C ]linoleate. Total lipids were extracted and separated into lipid classes. The molecular species of phosphatidylcholine, diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols were analyzed. After [ 14 C ]oleate feeding differences were found in the labelling of phosphatidylcholine and diacylglycerols labelled molecular species, whereas distribution of these molecules was the same when [ 14 C ]linoleate was supplied. The role of phosphatidylcholine-diacylglycerol interconversion that may be catalysed by CDP choline:diacylglycerol phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.8.2) in generating triacylglycerols rich in linoleate is discussed. All the results obtained corroborate previous studies involving phosphatidylcholine in the biosynthesis of such triacylglycerols and allowed us to suggest reactional mechanisms for the formation of the different triacylglycerols molecular species in sunflower seeds.

Volatile Constituents of Pinus pinea L. Needles

Abstract The composition of the essential oil hydro-distilled from needles of Pinus pinea L. trees, collected from six populations coming from Northern Tunisia was determined by GC and GC/MS analysis. Fifty-seven components, accounting for 94.4–99.9% of the oil were identified. As expected, the majority of the identified metabolites were found to be monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Monoterpenes account about 76% with 34 of 57 compounds identified. The principal component was limonene (35.9%) followed by α-pinene (6.4%). Sesquiterpenes (ca.19%) were mainly β-cubebene (1.8%), β-caryophyllene (1.7%), α humulene (1.7%) and β-farnesene (1.7%). Diterpenes (1.4%) were present in few concentrations mainly at one population. Data projection on axes of principal component analysis from P. pinea samples showed significant geographic polymorphism between Tunisian populations. This suggests that, using an appropriate wide-range sample of P. pinea populations, terpenes could be used to study the genetic diversity of P. pinea. This species has never shown a noticeable genetic variability using microsatellites, fatty acids or allozymes.