Rhamnus alaternus aqueous extract enhances the capacity of system redox defence and protects hepatocytes against aluminum chloride toxicity in rats

Background This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of a Rhamnus alaternus aqueous extract (RAAE) on aluminum chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. A preliminary phytochemical study and antioxidant activity tests of the extract were performed. Methods A preliminary phytochemical study and antioxidant activity tests of the extract were performed. For the in vivo study, twenty-four male rats were divided into four groups. The control group (C); the RAAE group treated with 250 mg/kg b.w RAAE; the AlCl3 group, which received 50 mg/kg b.w AlCl3; and the AlCl3/RAAE group that was treated with AlCl3 plus RAAE. Results The RAAE contains several phenolic compounds. This plant extract showed a high radical scavenging effect and high antioxidant activity. Administration of AlCl3 resulted in a significant increase in the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (AST, ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and significant decreases in the plasma concentrations of total proteins and albumin. Moreover, AlCl3 induced a hepatic pro-oxidant effect leading to an increase in malonaldehyde (MDA) and carbonyl protein contents, the depletion of the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and a decrease in the antioxidant enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). However, RAAE supplementation with AlCl3 treatment significantly decreased the levels of MDA and carbonyl proteins and markedly restored the activities of the antioxidant enzymes. These results are supported by the improvement in liver tissue restoration. Conclusions The Rhamnus alaternus aqueous extract was shown to have effective antioxidant activity owing to its phenolic compounds protecting against AlCl3-induced liver oxidative damage.

Bioguided Isolation of Active Compounds from Rhamnus alaternus against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Panton-Valentine Leucocidin Positive Strains (MSSA-PVL)

Despite intensified efforts to develop an effective antibiotic, S. aureus is still a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The multidrug resistance of bacteria has considerably increased the difficulties of scientific research and the concomitant emergence of resistance is to be expected. In this study we have investigated the in vitro activity of 15 ethanol extracts prepared from Moroccan medicinal plants traditionally used for treatment of skin infections. Among the tested species I. viscosa, C. oxyacantha, R. tinctorum, A. herba alba, and B. hispanica showed moderate anti-staphylococcal activity. However, R. alaternus showed promising growth-inhibitory effects against specific pathogenic bacteria especially methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine leucocidin positive (MSSA-PVL) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The bioguided fractionation of this plant using successive chromatographic separations followed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) including EIMS and HREIMS analysis yielded the emodin (1) and kaempferol (2). Emodin being the most active with MICs ranging between 15.62 and 1.95 µg/mL and showing higher activity against the tested strains in comparison with the crude extract, its mechanism of action and the structure-activity relationship were interestingly discussed. The active compound has not displayed toxicity toward murine macrophage cells. The results obtained in the current study support the traditional uses of R. alaternus and suggest that this species could be a good source for the development of new anti-staphylococcal agents.

Rhamnusalaternus Plant: Extraction of Bioactive Fractions and Evaluation of Their Pharmacological and Phytochemical Properties

Rhamnus alaternus, is a wild-growing shrub, belonging to the Rhamnaceae family. Widely distributed in the Mediterranean basin, R. alaternus is used in the usual medicine in numerous countries, mostly Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, and Croatia. A large number of disorders—including dermatological complications, diabetes, hepatitis, and goiter problems—can be treated by the various parts of R. alaternus (i.e., roots, bark, berries, and leaves). Several bioactive compounds were isolated from R. alaternus, including flavonoids, anthocyanins, and anthraquinones, and showed several effects such as antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, antigenotoxic, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative. This review summarizes the updated information concerning the botanical description, distribution, extraction processes applied on R. alaternus, and its ethnopharmacology, toxicity, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects.

Soil Moisture- and Temperature-Induced Facilitation of Urban Endogean Fauna in Two Types of Shrub Hedges

As the most important type of public green space, parks are crucial for delivering a wide range of ecosystem services that contribute to the well-being of urban residents. Nevertheless, the criteria for selecting vegetation structure and composition within urban parks is often limited to ornamental value. Here, park hedges of Pittosporum tobira (Japanese pittosporum) and Rhamnus alaternus (Mediterranean buckthorn) are compared for their effectiveness in soil temperature and soil moisture regulation in support of soil fauna, thus contributing to lifecycle maintenance, habitat, and gene pool protection ecosystem services. The adjacent hedges, located in the gardens of the Hellenic Mediterranean University, were monitored for soil moisture, temperature, and fauna for a period of 6 months. For each hedge, soil temperature and water at 5 cm below ground were measured (N = 3). Measurements showed that, during temperature extremes, soil under R. alaternus had a higher buffering capacity for temperature than that under P. tobira, staying over 2.5 °C warmer during cold periods and over 3.5 °C cooler during warm periods. During the dry season, R. alaternus also retained soil moisture with higher minimum (0.08 versus 0.04 m3/m3) and average values (0.11 versus 0.07 m3/m3) than under P. tobira. Berlese-Tullgren funnels and pitfall traps were used to capture endogean fauna and bigger invertebrates, respectively. Invertebrates extracted during 3 samplings were identified mainly at the level of order, with the most abundant taxonomic groups being slugs and seven arthropod taxa. The Shannon Index values revealed that the biodiversity of the fauna collected in pitfalls under R. alaternus was 1.2 times higher than that collected under P. tobira. Specimens from funnels were also more abundant, with soil under R. alaternus showing a biodiversity three times higher than that under P. tobira. Results indicate that, in arid environments, R. alaternus urban park hedges may offer additional ecosystem services compared to P. tobira by providing more sustainable biodiversity hubs.