Although the trends of international reports show an increase in overweight and obesity, even in developing countries, there are still areas of the world, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, strongly affected by undernutrition. Specifically, in Madagascar, the percentage of stunted children under 5 is extremely high. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to increase the risk of all forms of malnutrition, especially in low-income countries, including Madagascar, with serious intergenerational repercussions. This narrative review aims at investigating eating habits and cooking methods of the Malagasy population, addressing sustainable healthy diets through promotion of novel foods. While novel foods are a recent concept, there are data that describe how they may contribute to counteract food insecurity and malnutrition considering context and place. Efforts to promote native, traditional foods as Moringa oleifera, an indigenous plant in Asia and Africa including Madagascar, rich in protein and micronutrients, as well as edible insects, alternative sustainable source of protein, lipids, iron, and zinc, would provide not only nutritional but also cultural and economic benefits. The potential synergies between food traditions and agroecology have the potential to impact health addressing larger issues of sustainability and food security. Regional, national, and international policies are needed to develop and support one health approach actions.

Background: A closer relationship has been established between entomology and toxicology, giving rise to a new field known as entomotoxicology, which focuses on the bioaccumulation of toxic substances in scavenging insects and other arthropods. Methods: This study investigates the impact of lethal doses of Mercury Chloride (HgCl2) and Cadmium Chloride (CdCl2) administered to male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus Linnaeus) on the distribution of Mercury and Cadmium in rabbit organs and their subsequent accumulation in Chrysomya albiceps larvae. The experimental groups were subjected to oral administration of specific concentrations of HgCl2 and CdCl2, while a control group received distilled water. Organ dissection and subsequent larval feeding were followed by acid digestion for sample preparation and inductively coupled plasma torch spectrometry coupled with a mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was employed for analysis. Result: Results indicate a significant increase in Mercury concentrations in treated rabbit organs, with the liver exhibiting the highest concentration. Cadmium showed diverse distribution among rabbit organs, with the highest concentrations in the kidneys. Ch. albiceps larvae, reared on rabbit organs, exhibited varied concentrations of both Mercury and Cadmium, with significantly higher levels in the treated group. These findings underscore the ecological implications of heavy metal exposure and the potential utility of insect larvae in forensic investigations as bioindicators of environmental contamination.

Inula viscosa is a Mediterranean medicinal plant known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. This study investigated the phytochemical profile and biological activities of methanolic extracts of I. viscosa collected from Skikda. The extract was rich in phenolics (210.30 ± 15.69 mg GAE/g dry extract), flavonoids (90.19 ± 6.90 mg QE/g dry extract), and tannins (65.65 ± 5.76 mg TAE/g dry extract). Strong antioxidant activity was observed with IC ₅₀ values of 0.69 ± 0.09 mg/mL (DPPH) and 0.63 ± 0.66 mg/mL (ABTS), alongside total antioxidant capacity. HPLC and LC–MS/MS analyses identified major phenolics, including luteolin (4.080 μg/g dry extract, 5.33 %), myricetin (7.94 %), apigenin (0.540 μg/g dry extract, 6.60 %), quercetin (2.300 μg/g dry extract, 0.96 %), and kaempferol (1.560 μg/g dry extract, 4.01 %). The extract exhibited potent α-glucosidase (IC ₅₀ = 15.82 ± 1.29 μg/mL) and α-amylase inhibition (IC ₅₀ = 28.76 ± 0.67 μg/mL), moderate urease inhibition, and weaker acetylcholinesterase inhibition. Antibacterial activity was strongest against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus . A 28-day oral toxicity study (100–300 mg/kg) confirmed safety, enhanced antioxidant defenses, reduced lipid peroxidation, and normalized hepatic and renal biomarkers. These findings support I. viscosa as a promising natural source of bioactive compounds.

Pesticide-induced liver toxicity remains a significant health concern, particularly with the widespread use of triazole fungicides such as propiconazole (PCZ), which is known to disrupt hepatic function through oxidative stress and nuclear receptor activation. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective potential of the hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) of Erodium guttatum , a medicinal plant rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of potent antioxidant molecules, and antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) demonstrated strong radical scavenging activity. In vivo , PCZ administration significantly elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP), bilirubin, lipids, and glucose levels, and increased liver weight, indicating hepatic damage. However, co-administration of the HAE markedly improved these parameters, suggesting a protective role. Histological analysis supported these findings, showing preserved liver architecture in the treated group. Molecular docking studies further revealed that key plant constituents – particularly isoquercitrin and quercetin-3-xyloside exhibited stronger binding affinity to the PXR receptor than PCZ, potentially blocking its harmful activation. ADME profiling indicated favorable pharmacokinetics for several plant compounds. Overall, this study highlights the promising hepatoprotective effect of E. guttatum extract against PCZ-induced toxicity and supports its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for liver protection.