Ezzouhra EL MAAIDEN

An inexpensive, accurate, and simple green spectrophotometric assay was developed and validated for the determination of the antibiotic drug, Amoxicillin (AMX), in pure drug and tablet using ninhydrin (NIH). The method relied on the condensation reaction between the drug and Ninhydrin reagent (NIH) in the present NaHCO3, and then the colored product was measured at 420 nm. The absorbance measured was related to AMX concentration. Different experimental conditions of assay were studied, and optimized. Beer’s law for the method is obeyed over the concentration ranges 30-180 µg mL-1. The molar absorptivity value was 1.76×103 L mol-1 cm1. The limits detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) values were 0.9 and 2.73 mg mL-1. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines for precision and accuracy, robustness and ruggedness, and selectivity. The intraday and inter-day relative standard deviation (%RSD) values for precisions were found to be in the range of 1.53–2.62%, whereas the re...

BackgroundNaringenin (NA) is a natural flavonoid used in the formulation of a wide range of pharmaceutical, fragrance, and cosmetic products. In this research, NA was extracted from Searsia tripartita using an environmentally friendly, high efficiency extraction method: an ultrasound-assisted extraction with deep eutectic solvents (UAE-DES).MethodsSix natural deep eutectic solvent systems were tested. Choline chloride was used as the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA), and formic acid, ethylene glycol, lactic acid, urea, glycerol, and citric acid were used as hydrogen bond donors (HBD).ResultsBased on the results of single-factor experiments, response surface methodology using a Box-Behnken design was applied to determine the optimal conditions for UAE-DES. According to the results, the optimal NA extraction parameters were as follows: DES-1 consisted of choline chloride (HBA) and formic acid (HBD) in a mole ratio of 2:1, an extraction time of 10 min, an extraction temperature of 50°C, an...

Isoquercetin (ISQ) is reported to be a powerful antioxidant with extremely high bioavailability and structural stability compared to aglycone quercetin. Despite this, it is not well studied due to the limited methods for its extraction. With the growing interest in the research and analysis of ISQ-rich herbs, there is a need to optimize an efficient and rapid method for their extraction. In the present study, the ultrasound-assisted extraction of ISQ from Ephedra alata Decne was optimized by a response surface methodology (RSM) using high-performance liquid chromatography as a separation method. The best possible ranges for extraction time (10–30 min), temperature (50–70 °C), ultrasonic power (60–90 W), solvent-to-solid ratio (50–70 mL/g), and ethanol concentration (50–70%) were determined using a single factor analysis. Subsequently, an optimization of the extraction conditions was performed with RSM using the Box–Behnken design. An ultrasonication time of 10 min, a temperature of ...

The importance of pharmaceuticals comes from their direct connection to human life. Therefore, many analysis techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopic methods, and others have been developed for one goal, which is to ensure that the drug reaches humans with high quality. Spectrophotometric and titrimetric methods have been in general use for the last 40 years and over this period have become the most important analytical instrument in the modern-day laboratory. In many applications, other techniques could be employed in pharmaceutical analysis, but none rival UV–visible spectrometry as well as titrimetry, for their simplicity, versatility, speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. This chapter highlights the spectroscopic methods in the ultraviolet and visible regions, as well as the titration methods that are still widely used in the field of pharmaceutical analysis. The types of titrations, as well as the most important reactions used in spectrophotometric methods, are prese...

Plants are the main source of bioactive compounds that can be used for the formulation of cosmetic products. Plant extracts have numerous proven health benefits, among which are anti-ageing and skin-care properties. However, with the increased demand for plant-derived cosmetic products, there is a crucial prerequisite for establishing alternative approaches to conventional methods to ensure sufficient biomass for sustainable production. Plant tissue culture techniques, such as in vitro root cultures, micropropagation, or callogenesis, offer the possibility to produce considerable amounts of bioactive compounds independent of external factors that may influence their production. This production can also be significantly increased with the implementation of other biotechnological approaches such as elicitation, metabolic engineering, precursor and/or nutrient feeding, immobilization, and permeabilization. This work aimed to evaluate the potential of biotechnological tools for producin...

This study aimed to compare the influence of extraction methods on the pharmaceutical and cosmetic properties of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). For this purpose, the dried plant materials were extracted using advanced (microwave (MAE), ultrasonic (UAE), and homogenizer (HAE) assisted extractions) and conventional techniques (maceration, percolation, decoction, infusion, and Soxhlet). The tyrosinase, elastase, α-amylase, butyryl, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition were tested by using L-3,4 dihydroxy-phenylalanine, N-Succinyl-Ala-Ala-p-nitroanilide, butyryl, and acetylcholine as respective substrates. Antioxidant activities were studied by ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP. In terms of extraction yield, advanced extraction techniques showed the highest values (MAE > UAE > HAE). Chemical profiles were dependent on the phenolic compounds tested, whereas the antioxidant activities were always higher, mainly in infusion and decoction as a conventional technique. In relation to the pharm...

Cacti are one of the most significant and diversified groups of angiosperms, distributed and cultivated globally, mostly in semi-arid, arid, and the Mediterranean climate regions. Conventionally, they are propagated by seeds or through vegetative propagationviarooted offshoots or grafting. However, these multiplication procedures remain insufficient for mass propagation.In vitroculture techniques are utilized to mass propagate endangered and commercial cacti species. These include somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration through indirect or direct organogenesis. The latter is a promising tool for commercial clonal propagation of high-value species and has been successfully implemented for several species, such asMammillaria, Hylocereus, Cereus, Echinocereus, andAriocarpus. However, its success depends on explant type, basal nutrient formulation of culture medium, and types and concentrations of plant growth regulators. This study aimed to assess the potential ofin vitropropagati...

Ziziphus spina-christi has been traditionally used as a folk medicine for a variety of therapeutic benefits. However, there is no well-documented information regarding the protective role of this plant against toxicity induced by the overdose of trace metals, including iron. This work aimed to investigate the major components, as well as the antioxidant profile of aqueous extracts from different Z. spina-christi plant parts (seed, pulp, and almond), and to assess the protective effect of seed extract against iron-induced oxidative DNA damage using Tetrahymena pyriformis as a cellular model. Cells were incubated with iron (II) chloride (FeCl2) FeCl2 (1000 μM) in the absence or presence of seed extract. Lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species production were measured using biochemical assays. Intracellular iron accumulation was evaluated through Perl’s Prussian blue staining and ferrozine assay. The DNA damage was evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, PCR, and restriction enzyme digestion of metallothionein (MT) gene. HPLC–DAD analysis revealed 21 different phenolic compounds; most of them were identified in the seed extract, while the almond extract exhibited a weak phenolic composition. Accordingly, seed extract showed important in vitro antioxidant activities. Pre-treatment with seed extract significantly reduced the impact of FeCl2, by attenuating MTT reduction, preventing iron accumulation, modulated antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced lipid peroxidation and significantly inhibited DNA damage. Collectively, data showed that Ziziphus spina-christi seed might act as an iron chelator agent with antioxidant properties offering effective protection against cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage induced by iron (II) chloride overload.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The genus Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae) contains 58 accepted species that are extensively used by local people and medicinal practitioners in arid and semi-arid regions for the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, diabetic, hypertension, inflammation, intestinal spasm, liver, malaria and other diseases. Aims of this review: This review article documents and critically assesses, for the first time; up to date categorized information about botanical traits, distribution, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological effects of Ziziphus species. METHODS Information was collected systematically from electronic scientific databases including Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, ACS Publications, Elsevier, SciFinder, Wiley Online Library and CNKI, as well as other literature sources (e.g., books). KEY FINDINGS The phytochemical investigations of plants of this genus have led to the identification of about 431 chemical constituents. Cyclopeptide alkaloids and flavonoids are the predominant groups. The crude extracts and isolated compounds exhibit a wide range of in vitro and in vivo pharmacologic effects, including antimicrobial, antitumour, antidiabetic, antidiarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. Toxicity studies indicate that Ziziphus species seems to be non-toxic at typical therapeutic doses. CONCLUSION Phytochemical and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that Ziziphus species are important medicinal herbs with prominent bioactivities. The focus so far has only been on ten species; however, plants of this genus can potentially yield a wide range of other products with different properties. Meticulous studies on pharmaceutical standardisation, mode of action of the active constituents and toxicity of Ziziphus species are needed to meet the growing demands of the pharmaceutical industry and to exploit their preventive and therapeutic potential fully.

Abstract Two non-aqueous titrimetric and one visible spectrophotometric methods were developed and validated for the determination of valganciclovir hydrochloride (VLGH) in pure drug and tablets. The titrimetric methods were carried out by titrating the VLGH solution in glacial acetic acid with acetous perchloric acid (HClO4) in the presence of mercuric acetate and the end point of this titration was being located either visually (method A) or potentiometrically (method B). The spectrophotometric method (method C) was based on the addition of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DMAB) solution to VLGH solution and the formed yellow condensation product was measured at 420 nm. In titrimetric procedures, both the methods A and B were applicable over the range of 4–20 mg VLGH, and the calculations were based on a 1:1 reaction stoichiometry (VLGH: HClO4). In a spectrophotometric method, Beer’s law was valid in a concentration range of 5–50 μg/mL VLGH with the corresponding value of molar absorptivity of 4.43×103 L/(mol.cm) for method C. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for method C were 0.3 and 0.92 µg/mL, respectively. The developed methods were successfully applied to the determination of VLGH in tablets, and the results were statistically compared with those of a reference method by applying Student’s t-test and F-test. Further, the validity of the developed methods was confirmed by recovery studies via standard addition technique.

Vegetables from the genus Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae) have been identified as one of the main dietary antioxidants, especially phenolic compounds. However, their chemical composition varies according to the specie or the part of the plant. Mineral composition (potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, and zinc), polyphenolic content (Flavan-3-ol, Proanthocyanidin, total polyphenol content) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, and ORAC Assay) in four different matrices (whole fruit, pulp, seed and almond) of Ziziphus (Z. Lotus and Z. Spina Christi) commonly grown in Morocco were investigated. As a result, minerals, polyphenolic contents and antioxidant capacity fluctuated significantly (p ≤ 0.05) between different matrices and Ziziphus species analyzed. Seeds displayed a significantly higher mineral level, polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity in comparison to whole fruit, pulp and almond. Among species, Z. spina-christi have a significantly higher content of mineral, phenolics...

Tetrahymena pyriformis (protozoa) is intensely investigated as a model organism, offering numerous advantages in comprehensive and multidisciplinary studies using morphologic or molecular methods. Since DNA extraction is a vital step of any molecular experiment, here a new mixed surfactant (Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) 20%/Triton X-100) was adopted for effective DNA extraction from Tetrahymena pyriformis under an easy, fast protocol. The efficiency of this technique was then compared with three widely-used alternative techniques, namely the Chelex 100 matrix, Ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APD) complex and SDS–chloroform methods. DNA extraction was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, spectral measurement, fluorometry (Qubit), restriction enzyme digestion, and polymerase chain reaction. Data analysis revealed that the quantity and quality of the recovered DNA varied depending on the applied DNA extraction method. The new method (SDS 20%/Triton X-100) was the most eff...