Saoussen Hammami

A novel methylated sesquiterpene from seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

Phytochemical investigation of chloroform extract from the leaves of the marine plant Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile (Posidoniaceae), yielded posidozinol, a new methylated sesquiterpene along with β-sitosterol and four known fatty acids: palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic and linoleic acids. The structure elucidation has been established on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, GS/MS and ES mass spectrometry. Antibacterial effects of crude extracts from P. oceanica were evaluated against: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus microorganisms.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil from aerial parts of Teucrium flavum L. subsp. flavum growing spontaneously in Tunisia

The objectives of this study were to chemically characterise and evaluate the antioxidant potential of the essential oil from Teucrium flavum L. subsp. flavum growing spontaneously in Tunisia. The volatile oil was extracted by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts in a Clevenger type apparatus. Forty constituents were identified via GC and GC-MS analysis. β-caryophyllene (32.5%) and α-humulene (17.8%) were the most abundant components. The evaluation of free radical scavenging activity using stable DPPH free radical showed that the volatile oil exhibits a moderate antioxidant activity and reduces DPPH to 50% at EC50 value of 1230 μg mL− 1.

New bioactive labdane diterpenoids from Marrubium aschersonii

Abstract A phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of Marrubium aschersonii Magnus (Lamiaceae) collected from Tunisia led to the isolation and identification of two new labdane diterpenoids, marrubaschs A (1) and B (2), along with two known compounds (3 and 4). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including HRESIMS and NMR techniques. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Compound 2 exhibited weak inhibition of NO production with an IC50 value of 35 ± 1.0 μM.

Echiofruzine, a novel naringenin diglycoside from Echiochilon fruticosum growing in Tunisia

The aerial parts of the Tunisian plant Echiochilon fruticosum yielded a novel flavonol diglycoside: naringenin-5-O-β-D-glycopyranoside-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, named Echiofruzine (1), together with the known compounds vomifoliol-9-O-β-D-glucopyraroside (2), 1-oxo-α-ionyl-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) and 1-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl] eugenol (4), described for the first time in the indicated plant. The structures of the four isolated compounds were established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

A novel iridoid glycoside from the aerial parts of the Tunisian Prasium majus

Repeated fractionation of the acetylated methanol extract of Prasium majus afforded acetylated derivatives of a new iridoid glycoside hamighriprasin (1), myoporoside (2), β-D-glycopyranose (3) and saccharose (4). The structures of 1 and 2 were established by interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR data of their corresponding acetylated derivatives and by comparison with the literature.

Flowers essential oil Composition of Tunisian Matthiola longipetala and its bioactivity against Tribolium confusum insect

Abstract The chemical composition of the volatile parts of Matthiola longipetala flowers was analysed by GC and GC/MS. 46 constituents were identified in the essential oil. The most representative compounds were eugenol (19.93%), bicyclogermacrene (13.60%), heptacosane (7.85%) and tetradecanoic acid (5.57%). Insecticide activity of the essential oil against Tribolium confusum, was further evaluated using direct contact application method showing a significant inhibitory effect of the test material on the Tribolium confusum Duv larvae growth. 35% mortality of the adults was achieved at 8 days after treatment.

Comparative study on the chemical constituents of essential oils from different organs of the Sicilian Kundmannia (Kundmannia sicula L.) DC. (Apiaceae) growing spontaneously in Tunisia

Essential oils from odorous and volatile compounds possessing several therapeutic benefits are considered of a paramount importance in everyday human life. This study deals with a comparative study of essential oils from different parts of an aromatic plant Kundmannia sicula (L.) DC. (Apiaceae) growing in Tunisia. The hydro-distilled essential oils of the leaves and inflorescences with mature seeds (IMS) of K. sicula were analysed for the first time by gas chromatography equipped with flame ionisation detector and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Fifty leaves and 47 IMS constituents were identified, accounting for 97.9% and 98.2% of the total oil, respectively. The major compounds identified from the leaves and IMS oils were isocurcumenol (9.9–10.1%), hexadecanoic acid (9.5–10.9%), spathulenol (6.9–3.4%), 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (6.3–5.5%), α-cubebene (5.9–6.1%) and trans-dihydro occidentalol (52–6.6%). The essential oil consists mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes (50.7–53.2%).

Composition and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils From the Aerial Parts and Flowers of Thymus hirtus W. Growing in Tunisia

Abstract The chemical composition of essential oils isolated from fresh flowers and aerial parts of Thymus hirtus Willd was analyzed using GC and GC/MS. Forty-six components were identified in the oil of each organ. Camphor occurred as the major constituent of the aerial part oil, while α-pinene was the most notably dominating compound in the flower oil. Biological activities of the indicated oils were evaluated against eight bacteria, nine phytopathogenic, and 15 human pathogenic fungi.

Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil from Flowerheads of Anacyclus cyrtolepidioïdes Pomel from Tunisia

Abstract The essential oil from the flowerheads of Anacyclus cyrtolepidioïdes, a wild Aceraceae herb, gathered in the south of Tunisia, was extracted and separated into four fractions F1-F4. Chemical constituents of those fractions were characterized. Seventy-five compounds, representing 70.2 % of the oil, were identified by GC and GC-MS. Monoterpene hydrocarbons constituted the most abundant terpene family of this oil, by occurrence of α-Pinene in highest percentage in the four fractions. Oxygenated monoterpenes (Compholenal) and Sesquiterpenes (β-Cubebene) were found in F2 at a highest value. Decanal, was found at the highest value in F2, and four carboxylic acids, which values were much important in F2. The crude oil and its four fractions were tested for their antibacterial activity. All the tested samples found to be active towards the gram-positive used strains. The composition-activity relationship is discussed on the basis of the profile of the crude essential oil and its fractions.

Extraction of carotenoids from Lycium ferocissimum fruits for cotton dyeing: Optimization survey based on a central composite design method

Studies were carried out to assess the extraction yield of carotenoids from the African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum Miers, Solanaceae) fruits with different solvents and solvent mixtures, to optimize the extraction conditions for maximum recovery and to improve the extraction efficiency. Among other solvents, a mixture of hexane and acetone gave the highest carotenoid extraction. Extraction conditions, such as hexane percentage in hexane/acetone solvent mixture, solvent-solid ratio, and extraction time were optimized using a statistically designed experiment. A regression equation for predicting the carotenoid yield as a function of three extraction variables was derived by statistical analysis. The optimized conditions for maximum carotenoids yield were 45 % hexane in solvent mixture, solvent-solid ratio of 70 (ml/g) and extraction time 70 min. The dyeability of cotton with carotenoids extract has also been studied. Unmordant and postmordanted bleached cotton fabric with alum and ferrous sulphatewas dyed. Color measurements and fastness properties as light, rubbing and wash were tested.