Pharmacological studies on aqueous extract of Launaea arborescens from southwest Algeria

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Launaea arborescens, its vernacular name is Mol-albina belonging to asteracaea family origin of the southwest of Algeria. This plant is used in folk medicines to treat gastroenteritis, diabetes, child aliment and other diseases; it is taken macerated or boiled.

AIM

This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammation an analgesic activity of the aqueous extract of Launaea arborescens (AqELA) and its pathway of action.

METHODS

the investigation of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were done using formalin test, acetic acid test. For mechanism investigation, it was used hot plate test to induce opioid receptors, a histamine and serotonin test to induce edema paw, finally, for the TRPV1 receptor, it was used the capsaicin test.

RESULTS

The aqueous extract of Launaea arborescens showed a significant inhibition of abdominal writhing test 95% and 100% inhibition of licking paw using acid acetic test and formalin test respectively (EC: 47 mg/kg and 104 mg/kg). The analgesic effect of the aqueous extract of Launaea arborescens showed inhibition of sensation of pain after 120 min compared to morphine effect. The aqueous extract of Launaea arborescens reduced paw volume after 180 min and 120 min for histamine and serotonin respectively with dose-dependent. Concerning of TRPV1 receptors, the inhibition was showed at doses 100 mg and 300 mg.

CONCLUSION

Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of Launaea arborescens for inflammation ailment.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of Bubonium graveolens

Introduction: Bubonium graveolens is used in traditional pharmacopoeia against imbalances of the gastrointestinal tract, cephalic pains, and bronchitis, and as an anti-inflammatory agent. Methods: We have investigated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of Bubonium graveolens in male mice of strain NMRI Albinos, weighing between 22 g and 38 g. Acetic acid was used to induce writhes in the mice and inflammation of paw edema. Results: Evaluation of the analgesic activity showed that the aqueous extract at 150 mg/kg of the plant induced a decrease in the number of abdominal cramps caused by 1% acetic acid. The aqueous extract of the plant had an analgesic effect almost equal to that of Diclofenac; in fact, the latter caused a pain inhibition of 49 ± 1.1% while Bubonium graveolens caused a pain inhibition of 49.6 ± 2.1%, at the concentration of 150 mg/kg. Evaluation of the percentage of inhibition showed that the aqueous extract of Bubonium graveolens had a better anti-inflammatory activity compared to Diclofenac sodium during the treatment duration (69.57% — 56.52% at 60 min; 71.43% — 50.00% at 120 min, and 75.00% — 66.67% at 180 min). Conclusion: The results of this research indicate that Bubonium graveolens inhibits inflammation and could explain its effective use in traditional medicine.

Effectiveness of the Zea mays-Streptomyces association for the phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons impacted soils

Restoring polluted sites by petroleum hydrocarbons is a challenge because of their complexity and persistence in the environment. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the performance of plant-actinobacteria system for the remediation of crude petroleum and pure-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contaminated soils. The endophytic strain Streptomyces sp. Hlh1 was tested for its ability to degrade model PAHs (phenanthrene, pyrene and anthracene) in liquid minimal medium. Streptomyces sp. Hlh1 demonstrated the ability to grow on PAHs as sole carbon and energy source, reaching hydrocarbons removal of 63%, 93% and 83% for phenanthrene, pyrene and anthracene, respectively. Maize plant was chosen to study the impact of Streptomyces sp. Hlh1 inoculation on the dissipation of contaminants and plant growth. Thus, maize seedlings grown in soils contaminated with crude petroleum and pure-PAHs were inoculated with Streptomyces sp. Hlh1. Results showed that the endophyte inoculation increased contaminants removal. Maximum hydrocarbons removal (70%) was achieved in inoculated and planted soil contaminated with crude oil, while 61%, 59%, and 46% of hydrocarbons dissipation were registered for phenanthrene, pyrene and anthracene, respectively. These degradations rates were significantly higher compared to non-inoculated systems in all the treatments evaluated. Further, it was revealed that hydrocarbons (C₈-C₃₀) were efficiently degraded in plant-Streptomyces Hlh1 system. Moreover, the inoculation with the actinobacteria resulted significant plant development and enhanced photosynthetic pigments compared to plants grown in the other experimental conditions. The present study provide evidence that the inoculation of maize plants with Streptomyces sp. Hlh1 play a remarkable role in the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons, enhancing plant development in contaminated soils.

Petroleum degradation by endophytic Streptomyces spp. isolated from plants grown in contaminated soil of southern Algeria

Petroleum hydrocarbons are well known by their high toxicity and recalcitrant properties. Their increasing utilization around worldwide led to environmental contamination. Phytoremediation using plant-associated microbe is an interesting approach for petroleum degradation and actinobacteria have a great potential for that. For this purpose, our study aimed to isolate, characterize, and assess the ability of endophytic actinobacteria to degrade crude petroleum, as well as to produce plant growth promoting traits. Seventeen endophytic actinobacteria were isolated from roots of plants grown naturally in sandy contaminated soil. Among them, six isolates were selected on the basis of their tolerance to petroleum on solid minimal medium and characterized by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. All petroleum-tolerant isolates belonged to the Streptomyces genus. Determination by crude oil degradation by gas chromatorgraph-flame ionization detector revealed that five strains could use petroleum as sole carbon and energy source and the petroleum removal achieved up to 98% after 7 days of incubation. These isolates displayed an important role in the degradation of the n-alkanes (C₆-C₃₀), aromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. All strains showed a wide range of plant growth promoting features such as siderophores, phosphate solubilization, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, nitrogen fixation and indole-3-acetic acid production as well as biosurfactant production. This is the first study highlighting the petroleum degradation ability and plant growth promoting attributes of endophytic Streptomyces. The finding suggests that the endophytic actinobacteria isolated are promising candidates for improving phytoremediation efficiency of petroleum contaminated soil.