This review summarizes available data on argan fruit botany, geographical distribution, traditional uses, environmental interest, socioeconomic role, phytochemistry, as well as health beneficial effects and examination of future prospects. In particular, ethnomedical uses of argan fruits are carried out throughout Morocco where it has been used against various diseases. Different classes of bioactive compounds have been characterized including essential oils, fatty acids, triacylglycerols, flavonoids and their newly reported acylglycosyl derivatives, monophenols, phenolic acids, cinnamic acids, saponins, triterpenes, phytosterols, ubiquinone, melatonin, new aminophenols along with vitamin E among other secondary metabolites. The latter have already shown a wide spectrum of in vitro, and ex vivo biologicalactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, anti-hypercholesterolemia, analgesic, antimicrobial, molluscicidal anti-nociceptive and anticancer potential. Argan flesh (pulp) contains a broad spectrum of polyphenolic compounds which may have utility for incorporation into nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals relevant to the food, cosmetic and health industries. Further research is recommended, especially on the health beneficial effects of the aminophenols.

An examination of possible effect of hot desert climate on microbiological safety and physicochemical and antioxidant properties of honey marketed in the province of Errachidia in Morocco was made. The assessment of microbiological properties showed no alarming sign of microbiological contamination or quality deterioration. This can be seen by the low moisture content in all analysed samples, which was below 20 (the maximum allowed in honey), and acid pH which was raging from 3.320.05 to 4.370.12. The ash content values ranged between 0.020.01 and 0.230.001, and the electrical conductivity ranged between 87.40.42 and 1148.062.16mS/cm. Considering the mineral content, the potassium was the most abundant species in all the analysed samples. The phenol content values varied from 17.352.15mg GAE/100g in H7 to 219.0262.26mg GAE/100g in H9. Similarly, the same behavior was seen in the case of the other bioactive subfamilies of phenolic compound flavonoid content. Hence, the highest value of flavonoids, flavones, and flavanols was detected in H9, and the minimum value was observed in sample H7. A negative correlation was found between the bioactive fraction of honey samples and free radical scavenging activity assessed as IC₅₀, the concentration of honey that scavenges 50 of the used free radicals. The bioactive fraction, the antioxidant assays, and their correlation values showed the same profile in comparison to the honey samples of other Moroccan regions.

Background: Melissa officinalis L. is a medicinal and aromatic plant traditionally used in Morocco to treat a weave range of illness. The aim of our study was to evaluate cytotoxic activity of Moroccan Melissa officinalis leaf extracts against three human cancer cell lines, namely, MCF7, LNCAP and PC3 and to reevaluate its phytochemicals. Results: The dichloromethane extract was found to be the most active cytotoxic extract, decreasing cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, especially against the breast MCF7 cell line. The IC₅₀ values for the dichloromethane extract against MCF7, LNCAP, and PC3 cell lines were 30.90, 71.21, and 173.93 μg/mL respectively whereas the corresponding IC₅₀ values for the ethanol extract were 35.52, 136.40, and 237.82 μg/mL. An update of the chemical profiles of these organic extracts was conducted by GC-MS, HPLC, and HPLC-ESI-MS, and the quantity of total polyphenolic compounds (on a dry weight basis) was 61.84 g/kg and 2.86 g/kg in the ethanol and dichloromethane extracts, respectively. The major polyphenolic compounds identified in the ethanol extract were 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl lactic acid (I), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (II), caffeic acid (III), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (IV), rosmarinic acid glucoside (V), methyl caffeate (VI), rosmarinic acid (VII), isolithospermic acid (VIII), methyl rosmarinate (IX), lithospermic acid (X), methyl isolithospermic acid (XI), and methyl lithospermic acid (XII). Of these, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl lactic acid (I), isolithospermic acid along with its methyl ester derivative are reported in Melissa officinalis leaves extract for the first time. In addition, o-tyrosol (XIII), methyl hydroxyphenyl acetic acid (XIV), and cis-rosmarinic acid (XV) were also detected in the DCM extracts. In the n-hexane extracts LCFA (palmitic, linolenic, linoleic, and stearic acids), sterols (campesterol, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol), and the vitamins (α- and β-tocopherol) were detected and identified. Conclusion: These results indicated that Melissa officinalis L extracts possess a potent cytotoxic effect against human cancer cell lines and the richness of this herb in bioactive molecules justifying its use in traditional Moroccan pharmacopeia.

Aims: The present study was performed in order to analyze the antihypertensive activity of Micromeria graeca (L.) Benth. ex Rchb. Background: Micromeria graeca (L.) Benth. ex Rchb is an aromatic and medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. This herb is used to treat various pathologies such as cardiovascular disorders. Meanwhile, its pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system have not been studied. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of aerial parts of Micromeria graeca (AEMG) on the cardiovascular system in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Methods: In this study, the cardiovascular effect of AEMG was evaluated using in vivo and in vitro investigations. In order to assess the acute effect of AEMG on the cardiovascular system, anesthetized L-NAME-hypertensive and normotensive rats received AEMG (100 mg/kg) orally and arterial blood pressure parameters were monitored during six hours. In the sub-chronic study, rats were orally treated for one week, followed by blood pressure assessment during one week of treatment. Blood pressure was measured using a tail-cuff and a computer-assisted monitoring device. In the second experiment, isolated rat aortic ring pre-contracted with Epinephrine (EP) or KCl was used to assess the vasorelaxant effect of AEMG. Results: Oral administration of AEMG (100 mg/kg) provoked a decrease of arterial blood pressure parameters in hypertensive rats. In addition, AEMG induced a vasorelaxant effect in thoracic aortic rings pre-contracted with EP (10 μM) or KCl (80 mM). This effect was attenuated in the presence of propranolol and methylene blue. While in the presence of glibenclamide, L-NAME, nifedipine or Indomethacin, the vasorelaxant effect was not affected. Conclusion: This study showed that Micromeria graeca possesses a potent antihypertensive effect and relaxes the vascular smooth muscle through β-adrenergic and cGMP pathways.