Anvillea radiata is a medicinal plant that has been used in traditional phytotherapy in North Africa as a treatment for various illnesses. In this study, we aim to explore the antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial effects of essential oils of Anvillea radiata (EOAR) collected in Morocco. EOAR was extracted by the hydrodistillation method, and the phytochemical identification was carried out by gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, ferricyanide method (FRAP) as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Antifungal and antibacterial properties were determined by use of the disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays. The microbial strains used in the antimicrobial evaluation were: Aspergillus niger (MTCC 282), Aspergillus flavus (MTCC 9606), Fusarium oxysporum (MTCC 9913), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), Escherichia coli (ATB 97/BGM), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6633), Bacillus subtills (DSM 6333), and Escherichia coli (ATB 57/B6N). Based on in silico simulations, the inhibitory power of EOAR against nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH) was evaluated. The yield of the oil was 0.96% wherein 12 compounds were identified including α-cuprenene (33.48%) camphor (21.41%) and α-himachalene (15.88%) as major compounds. The antioxidant capacity showed an IC50 of 32.36 µg/mL (DPPH) and an EC-50 value of 64.60 ± 3.71 µg/mL in the FRAP assay. The total antioxidant capacity showed a concentration of 977.51 ± 22.38 µg AAE/mg (TAC). As for the antimicrobial effects, the inhibition diameter of the studied bacteria ranged from 23.50 ± 2.31 to mm 29.50 ± 2.21 mm, while for fungi, ranged from 25.12 ± 2.82 mm to 11.42 ± 1.90 mm. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranged from 12.71 ± 1.59 µg/mL to 23.53 ± 0.78 µg/mL for bacterial strains and 10.31 ± 1.34 µg/mL to 22.75 ± 1.06 µg/mL for fungal strains. In silico, among all Anvillea radiata essential oils analyzed, the sesquiterpene γ-dehydro-ar-himachalene, monoterpenoid phenol carvacrol, as well as sesquiterpene α-cadinene were the most active compounds against NADPH oxidase with a glide score of −6.233, −6.082, and −5.057 Kcal/mol, respectively. Taken together, these data showed that EOAR exhibited enormous significance as an antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial agent.

This study is aimed at evaluating the potential of the essential oil of Cinnamomum verum (EOCV) as an antioxidant, as an insecticide against Callosobruchus maculatus and for its anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. To this end, EOCV was extracted via hydrodistillation from this plant, and the identification of the phytochemicals was performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The antioxidant power was determined via in vitro tests, the insecticidal ability was tested via exposing C. maculatus to EOCV, and molecular docking was used to evaluate the anti-cholinesterase ability. The results of these GC–MS analyses show that the main composition of EOCV comprises Cinnamaldehyde dimethyl acetal (64.50%), cinnamicaldehyde (35.04%) and α-Copaene (0.11%). The insecticidal potential of the studied OEs, determined by using the inhalation test, and expressed as the concentration of EOs required for the death of 50% of the insects (LC50) and that required the death of 95% of adults (LC95) after 96 h of exposure, was 3.99 ± 0.40 and 14.91 ± 0.10 μL/L of air, respectively. In the contact test, 96 h of exposure gave an LC50 and LC95 of 3.17 ± 0.28 and 8.09 ± 0.05 μL/L of air, respectively. A comparison of the antioxidant activity of EOCV to that of ascorbic acid via DPPH free radical scavenging ability and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) revealed the IC50 and EC50 values of EOCV to be much higher than that obtained for ascorbic acid, and the molecular docking simulation revealed Coumarin, Piperonal, Cinnamaldehyde dimethyl and alpha-Copaene as possessing potential inhibitory activities against human acetylcholinesterase. However, further experimental validation is needed to enhance the prospects of this study.

Origanum grosii (L.) and Thymus pallidus (L.) are medicinal plants recognized for their uses in traditional medicine. In this context, the aim of this article is to highlight the results of a phytochemical analysis (HPLC), with particular emphasis on the antioxidant (DPPH, TAC, and FRAP), analgesic, anti-inflammatory, haemagglutinin-test-related, and hemolytic activities of the total extracts of these plants. Phytochemical analysis via HPLC revealed that licoflavone C (30%) is the main compound in Origanum grosii, while hesperidin (43%) is found in T. pallidus. Evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of Origanum grosii and Thymus pallidus using the DPPH, TAC, and FRAP methods revealed an IC50 of the order of 0.085 mg/mL and 0.146 mg/mL, an EC50 of the order of 0.167 mg/mL and 0.185 mg/mL, and a total antioxidant capacity of between 750 mg EQ/g and 900 mg EQ/g, respectively. Analgesic evaluations revealed writhes inhibition of the order of 97.83% for O. grosii and 90% for T. pallidus. In addition, both plant extracts showed limited hemolytic activity, not exceeding 30% at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory potential showed edema inhibition of the order of 94% (800 mg/kg) for O. grosii and 86% (800 mg/kg) for T. pallidus. These results highlight the potential applications of these extracts in pharmacological research.

The main objective of this work is to study the psychological impact (stress and depression) of the mandatory quarantine applied on the Moroccan population in order to limit the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), then the study of the psychometric properties of the Arab BDI-II in the general Moroccan population. 263 respondents were asked to respond to a BDI-II and PSS-10 socio-demographic questionnaire conducted during the first month of quarantine. 55.9% of the respondents were in a normal state of stress and 36.1% in a moderate state. However, 38.4% and 27.8% exhibited minimal and severe depression respectively. The results of factor analysis with the varimax rotation method revealed three factors predicting 55.56% of the total variance of BDI-II, while two factors predicting 60.97% of the total variance of PSS-10. Cronbach's alpha values for BDI and PSS-10 were α = 0.93 and α = 0.58 respectively. In conclusion, the BDI-II is a reliable and valid assessment for measuring symptoms of depression in the general Moroccan population and also very important to pay more attention to the side effects of mandatory quarantine.