Introduction: The leaves of Moroccan bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) have been used in several forms of extracts to cure rheumatic pain due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Our work aimed to evaluate the effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts, as well as the essential oil (EO) from laurel, on the microbicidal activity of human neutrophils when compared to the effect of eucalyptol. Methods: The extracts (ethanolic and aqueous) were subject to phytochemical profiling and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The EO obtained by hydrodistillation from laurel was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The immunomodulatory effects on neutrophil microbicidal activity of the extracts, EO, and eugenol were carried out by 3-(4,5-diméthylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphényltétrazolium (MTT) assay. Results: The phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, coumarins, phenols, flavone aglycones, and tannins. HPLC analysis showed the presence of numerous phenolic molecules such as syringic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, caffeine, and quercetin. The chemical composition of EO revealed that the major components were eucalyptol (44.14%), α-terpinyl acetate (11.11%), and β-phellandrene (6.74%). Aqueous and ethanolic extracts and EO revealed a significant and dose-dependent ability to inhibit neutrophils microbicidal activity with maximal inhibition at 200 µg/mL concentration with 30.42%, 24.7%, and 38.13%, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion: The obtained results revealed the immunomodulatory properties of laurel as a potential natural anti-inflammatory agent that would also allow the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.

Introduction: The use of pomegranates in Moroccan pharmacopeia is due to their healing and nutritional properties because of their richness in secondary molecules. The following study analyses the composition of the aqueous extract of Punica granatum peel and evaluates in vivo and in vitro antioxidant effects, hemolytic protection, and acute toxicity. Methods: Quantification of the plant extract was realized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The hemolytic assay was used for erythrocyte protection, while the in vitro antioxidant effect was evaluated by 2, 20-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoneline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and reducing ferric power (RFP) assays. The in-vivo antioxidant activity was tested by measuring levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in serum. The toxicological study was tested by oral administration of the extract to four groups of mice for 21 days, followed by a histopathological examination of the spleen. Results: HPLC analysis showed the presence of some phenolic compounds such as coumarin, caffeic, gallic and syringic acids. The IC50 of the antioxidant assays were 254.49 ± 62.17 μg/mL and 40.265 ± 2.9 μg/mL for ABTS and reducing power, respectively. Furthermore, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay showed the lowest levels at 150 mg/mL concentration. All of the concentrations used for hemolytic protection did not exceed 15% of hemolysis. Moreover, the toxicity test showed no sign of mortality, signs of weakness, or weight loss; also the histopathological examination of the spleen tissues showed the absence of any damage. Conclusion: The peel extract of P. granatum showed good potential and could be exploited as a natural antioxidant and antihemolytic remedy, leading to the development of new drugs.

Allium sativum is widely consumed and studied plant for its potential health-promoting effects. Despite its widespread use, the impact of different extraction methods on the biological efficacy and specific phytochemical composition of garlic has not yet been fully elucidated. This study investigated the phytochemical profile, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Moroccan-grown A. sativum using in vitro assays and in silico analyses. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by colorimetric methods, while phenolic aglycones were identified by HPLC. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion and determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values, antioxidant capacity by DPPH, TAC, and FRAP assays, and anti-inflammatory activity through protein denaturation inhibition. ADMET profiling was performed to predict pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of the identified compounds. The ethanolic extract exhibited higher flavonoid and phenolic contents, reaching 13.27 ± 0.01 mg quercetin/_gextract and 1.57 ± 0.02 mg GAE/_gextract, respectively. HPLC analysis identified syringic, caffeic, ferulic, p-coumaric, and chlorogenic acids, as well as kaempferol and quercetin, whereas apigenin was detected only in the ethanolic extract under the present extraction and analytical conditions. Both extracts inhibited MRSA and E. coli but showed no activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Docking analyses suggested favorable interactions between the identified compounds and bacterial target proteins. The ethanolic extract displayed stronger antioxidant activity, with DPPH IC₅₀ and TAC EC₅₀ values of 1.134 and 2.527 mg/mL, respectively. No ferric reducing activity was detected under the tested conditions. Protein denaturation inhibition ranged from 30.68% to 90.37%, with the aqueous extract showing significantly greater activity (p < 0.003). Overall, extraction-dependent differences in phenolic composition appear to influence the biological properties of A. sativum extracts, warranting further mechanistic and in vivo investigations.