The present study examines the water quality in the Quaternary Mio-Plio-Quaternary aquifer of the mining basin of Gafsa using a hydrochemical approach and multivariate statistical methods, to assess groundwater mineralization processes. Results from the analysis of groundwater quality collected during the winter (January 2020) and summer (June 2021) seasons reveal a pronounced stability in geochemical parameters, emphasizing a noteworthy consistency in water composition between the two seasons, with the dominance of the Na-Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl facies, in addition to the fact that all year round these concentrations are beyond their respective WHO limits. Despite the intensive extractive and transformation phosphate industry, the prolonged interaction of water with geological formations is the primary factor controlling their high mineralization. This results from the dissolution of carbonates (calcite, dolomite), gypsum, and halite. The results of the PCA represent two correlation classes. Class 1 comprises major elements sulfate, chloride, sodium, magnesium, and calcium strongly correlated with electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS). This correlation is indicative of the water mineralization process. Class 2 includes major elements nitrate and potassium weakly correlated with (TDS) and (EC) As regards heavy metals, their concentrations fall consistently below their respective potability standards established by the WHO across all water sampling points. Meanwhile, fluoride (F-) concentrations exhibited values ranging from (1.6 mg·L⁻¹ to 2.9 mg·L⁻¹) in the winter of January 2020 and (1 to 2.9 mg·L⁻¹) in the summer of June 2021, surpassing its WHO limit (1.5 mg·L⁻¹) in almost all water samples. These findings allow us to conclude that the high mineralization of these waters is acquired due to the dissolution of carbonates (calcite, dolomite), gypsum, and halite due to their prolonged interaction with the geological formations. The deterioration of groundwater quality in the Gafsa mining basin associated with phosphate extraction and processing activities appears to be primarily due to the intensive exploitation of deep-water resources.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the pulmonary damage resulting from isolated or combined exposure to inhaled toluene (300 ppm) and noise 85 dB (A), with a focus on evaluating the potential protective effects of Olea europaea L. leaf extract (OLE). Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: control (C), OLE treatment (O), noise exposure (N), noise exposure with OLE treatment (N+OLE), toluene exposure (T), toluene exposure with OLE treatment (T + OLE), co-exposure to toluene and noise (NT), and co-exposure with OLE treatment (NT + OLE). OLE (40 mg/kg/day) was administered daily for six weeks via oral gavage. Exposure to toluene and noise resulted in significant disruption of the pulmonary tissue structure, accompanied by oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation, diminished catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines IL6, IL-β, and TNF-α. Notably, the administration of OLE effectively mitigated oxidative stress and inflammation and preserved pulmonary histology. In conclusion, exposure to toluene and its combination with noise significantly elevated oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and histological disruptions in the lung tissue. In contrast, noise exposure alone is characterized by minimal effects, although it is still associated with an inflammatory response. Notably, Olea europaea L. leaf extract (OLE) exhibits a substantial protective role, effectively mitigating the adverse effects of combined exposure and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for lung health.

Our study aimed to investigate the impact of toluene and/or noise exposure on rat brains and assess the preventive effects of Olea europaea L. leaf extract (OLE) through biochemical, histopathologic analyses, behavior tests, and in silico study. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups: a control group, an OLE group, a noise-exposed group, a noise-exposed group treated with OLE, a toluene-exposed group, a toluene-exposed group treated with OLE, a co-exposed group to noise and toluene, and a co-exposed group to noise and toluene treated with OLE. OLE was orally administered at 40 mg/kg daily for six weeks. The results showed that noise and toluene exposure significantly disrupted brain tissue structure, causing oxidative damage, as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation, decreased catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. However, OLE administration alleviated oxidative stress by restoring antioxidant biomarker levels, maintaining AChE close to normal, and preserving brain histology, while also improving rat behavior and learning. These findings suggest that OLE may protect brain tissue against simultaneous exposure to noise and toluene. Importantly, these results have significant implications for the prevention and treatment of neurotoxicity associated with exposure to toluene and noise, highlighting the potential practical applications of our research.

Noise and toluene are environmental stressors that induce oxidative stress and inflammation, contributing to renal dysfunction. This study evaluated the protective effects of Olea europaea leaf extract (OeLE; 40 mg/kg/day) against combined noise‐ and toluene‐induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Forty‐eight male rats were divided into eight groups and exposed for 6 weeks (6 h/day, 5 days/week) to noise, toluene, or their combination, with or without OeLE supplementation. Renal function biomarkers (urea and creatinine), oxidative stress indices (malondialdehyde, catalase [CAT], and superoxide dismutase [SOD]), histopathology, and in silico docking targeting key redox and inflammatory mediators (CAT, SOD, IL‐1β, TNF‐α, and NF‐κB) were assessed. Co‐exposure caused significant renal dysfunction, elevated lipid peroxidation, impaired antioxidant defenses, glomerular collapse, tubular necrosis, vascular congestion, and interstitial inflammation, with the combined exposure group showing the most severe lesions. OeLE supplementation markedly mitigated these effects by restoring renal biomarkers, reducing oxidative injury, enhancing enzymatic antioxidant activity, and preserving renal architecture. Molecular docking confirmed strong interactions between OeLE bioactive compounds (oleuropein and luteolin‐7‐O‐glucoside) and antioxidant/inflammatory mediators. OeLE exerts antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects, protecting the kidneys from combined noise‐ and toluene‐induced damage, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent.

Protein-rich polysaccharides are increasingly recognized as multifunctional biopolymers with significant biomedical potential. In this study, a protein–polysaccharide complex (JrPRP) was isolated for the first time from the root bark of Juglans regia L. and comprehensively characterized. JrPRP was obtained with a yield of 4.7% (w/w) and exhibited an acidic composition enriched in uronic acid-related components, together with minor neutral sugars. Spectroscopic analyses (FTIR and UV–Vis) confirmed the coexistence of carbohydrate and protein domains, while chromatographic profiling (TLC and HPLC) indicated a heterogeneous monosaccharide composition. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a porous and irregular microstructure, consistent with a structured biopolymeric network exhibiting pronounced anionic character. Functionally, JrPRP demonstrated notable antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values of 405 ± 1.8 µg/mL (DPPH), 225 ± 3.5 µg/mL (ABTS), and 229 ± 1.7 µg/mL (metal chelation), along with strong ferric-reducing capacity. The complex exhibited antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 2–9 mg/mL), as well as potent antibiofilm activity, inhibiting up to 94% of Escherichia coli biofilm formation. Biocompatibility assays indicated low hemolytic activity, supporting its favorable safety profile. In addition, JrPRP showed moderate anticoagulant effects and strong anti-inflammatory activity, reaching 98% inhibition of protein denaturation, comparable to or exceeding diclofenac under similar conditions. These findings identify J. regia root bark as a promising and previously underexplored source of structurally distinctive uronic acid-containing protein-rich polysaccharides and provide new insights into the relationship between their compositional features and multifunctional biological activities.