Biochemical Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Protective Effects of Three Fermented Plants Beverages on Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Mice

Functional beverages play an essential role in our modern life and contribute to nutritional well-being. Current efforts to understand and develop functional beverages to promote health and wellness have been enhanced. The present study aimed to investigate the production of three fermented plants beverages (FPBs) from aromatic and medicinal plants and to evaluate the fermented product in terms of physio-biochemical composition, the aromatic compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vivo protective effects on hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The results showed that the fermented beverage NurtBio B had the highest levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins; 242.3 ± 12.4 µg GAE/mL, 106.4 ± 7.3 µg RE/mL and 94.2 ± 5.1 µg CE/mL, respectively. The aromatic profiles of the fermented beverages showed thirty-one interesting volatile compounds detected by GC-MS headspace analyses such as benzaldehyde, Eucalyptol, Fenchone, 3-Octadecyne, Estragole, and Benzene propanoic acid 1-methylethyl ester. In addition, the fermentation process was significantly improved, indicating its great potential as a functional food with both strong antioxidant activity and good flavor. In vivo administration of CCl4 in mice induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity by a significant rise in the levels of serum liver and kidney biomarkers. The protective effects of the FPBs showed that they significantly restored the majority of these biological parameters to normal levels, along with increase antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as an improvement of histopathological changes, suggesting their protective effects.

Genetic diversity of Tunisian figs (Ficus carica L.) as revealed by nuclear microsatellites

The present study portrays the achievement of the genetic polymorphism surveying and the establishment of an ecotypes identification key on the basis of simple sequence repeats data. Seventy-two Tunisian fig ecotypes in situ and ex situ conserved were analyzed using six microsatellite loci. A total of 58 alleles and 124 genotypes were revealed and permitted to evidence high degree of genetic diversity mainly explained at the intra group level. Cluster analysis based on genetic distances proved that a typical continuous genetic diversity characterizes the local germplasm. In addition, the microsatellite multilocus genotyping has permitted to unambiguously distinguish 70 well-defined ecotypes (resolving power of 97.22%). Data are discussed in relation with the reliability of the used markers to check the conformity of the plant material and to rationally manage the conservation of this crop.