The synthesis of new pseudo‐C‐nucleosides was accomplished starting from 3‐O‐benzyl‐1,2‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐D‐ribo‐pentodialdo‐1,4‐furanose, aiming to build thiazole, triazole, tetrazole, and thiazolidinone derivatives. The stereochemistry of the thiazolidinone epimers was confirmed by DFT/B3LYP calculations. The well‐known diversity of biological activities exhibited by compounds with these heterocyclic moieties in their structure encouraged the investigation of the insecticidal activity against Musca domestica. The thiazole derivative was efficient as insecticide with LD50=6.7 ng/g, which is in the order of the LD₅₀ values for pyrethroids on the same insect. All the compounds tested showed knockdown, mediated through action on the insect nervous system. The neuroactivity found in insects has motivated the evaluation of the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. The two thiazolidinone derivatives tested inhibited butyrylcholinesterase from human serum (36% and 22%), while inhibition of amphiphilic acetylcholinesterase from human erythrocytes at the same concentrations was found to be very low (5% and 8%). This selective activity may indicate potential application of these structures for amelioration of Alzheimer's disease.

Synthesis of stereoisomeric α-methylene-γ-lactones in furanose-and furanuronoamide derivatives was easily accomplished by Reformatsky Reaction with ethyl bromcmethylacrylic ester and zinc. Pyridinium chlorochromate/3Å molecular sieve powder showed to be an excellent reagent for the oxidation of secondary hydroxyl groups of a furanose system and of α-hydroxy amides.

Members of the Lamiaceae family are considered chief sources of bioactive therapeutic agents. They are important ornamental, medicinal, and aromatic plants, many of which are used in traditional and modern medicine and in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. In North Africa, on the Mediterranean side, there is the following particularly interesting Lamiaceous species: Thymus hirtus Willd. sp. Algeriensis Boiss. Et Reut. The populations of this endemic plant are distributed from the subhumid to the lower arid zone and are mainly employed as ethnomedicinal remedies in the following Maghreb countries: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. In fact, they have been applied as antimicrobial agents, antispasmodics, astringents, expectorants, and preservatives for several food products. The species is commonly consumed as a tea or infusion and is used against hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, respiratory ailments, heart disease, and food poisoning. These medicinal uses are related to constituents with many biological characteristics, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, insecticidal, and anti-inflammatory activities. This review aims to present an overview of the botanical characteristics and geographical distribution of Thymus algeriensis Boiss. Et Reut and its traditional uses. This manuscript also examines the phytochemical profile and its correlation with biological activities revealed by in vitro and in vivo studies.