The analysis of Thymus willdenowii Boiss & Reut essential oils (TW EOs) shows 33 components accounting for (96.3–97.7%) of all identified. The main constituents of TW EOs were thymol (35.5–47.3%), p-cymene (13.9–23.8%), γ-terpinene (8.9–20.3%). The antioxidant assays revealed that all TW EOs tested showed strong activities, the antimicrobial effect of TW EOs has been tested against isolated clinical strains of Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 35659), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), Bacillus cereus (ATCC 10876), and Aspergillus brasilliensis (ATCC 16404). The antimicrobial test indicates that TW EOs show an inhibition effect against all the tested bacteria with a MIC of 6.9 to 27.6 μg/mL⁻¹. These results proving that the essential oils extracted from Thymus willdenowii Boiss & Reut may be a new potential source of natural antimicrobial applied in pharmaceutical and food industries.

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and bioactivities of essential oils (EOs) from five Moroccan thyme species: Thymus broussonetii subsp. broussonetii, T. maroccanus, T. willdenowii, T. zygis subsp. gracilis, and T. satureioides, collected from various geographical regions. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified thymol, p-cymene, borneol, γ-terpinene, carvacrol, α-pinene, and camphene as major constituents, with variations across species. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) revealed important levels of calcium (450.6–712.2 mg/kg), potassium (255.4–420.7 mg/kg), magnesium (97.3–150.7 mg/kg), and iron (1.95–15.1 mg/kg). The EOs demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in DPPH, FRAP, and β-carotene bleaching assays. Insecticidal activity against Aphis gossypii revealed the highest efficacy with T. willdenowii EO (LC₅₀ = 6.2 µL/mL), followed by T. maroccanus and T. zygis subsp. gracilis. Additionally, the EOs exhibited potent enzyme inhibitory effects at 1 mg/mL on acetylcholinesterase (83.1–96.4%), tyrosinase (77.5–89.6%), and α-glucosidase (79.4–89.5%). These findings suggest that thyme EOs, particularly from T. willdenowii, T. zygis, and T. maroccanus, are promising candidates for integrated pest management and natural enzyme inhibitors. Their potential applications in medicinal and pharmaceutical fields underscore the need for further research to optimize their use under specific conditions and dosages.

This study aimed to investigate the variation in the chemical composition of Origanum compactum essential oils (EOs) from four geographically distinct locations. Additionally, we evaluated their antioxidant properties and potential inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase enzymes and their insecticidal proprieties. Notably, this research also marks the first examination of the mineral composition of O. compactum. The chemical composition was determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which identified thymol (28.72–80.39%), carvacrol (6.54–61.84%), p-cymene (0.27–8.64%), linalool (1.44–1.96%), and caryophyllene oxide (1.34–1.56%) as the major constituents. Concurrently, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) revealed significant levels of macro and microelements, including calcium (295.50–512.20 mg/kg), potassium (195.99–398.45 mg/kg), magnesium (59.70–98.45 mg/kg), and iron (43.55–112.60 mg/kg). The EOs demonstrated notable antiradical activities through DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and β-carotene bleaching assays. Regarding the insecticidal effect, all studied essential oils showed a significant toxicity against C. capitata adults, and the toxicity was dose and time dependent. The highest insecticidal effect was observed for O. compactum essential oils collected from Gouman (LC₅₀ = 2.515 µL/mL, LC₉₀ = 5.502 µL/mL) after 48 h of treatment. Furthermore, at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, the EOs exhibited strong inhibitory effects against AChE (84.75–94.01%), tyrosinase (84.75–94.01%), and α-glucosidase (79.90–87.80%), highlighting their potential as natural inhibitors of these enzymes. The essential oils of O. compactum contain components that could be used as a basis for synthetizing derivatives or analogs with potential medicinal applications and pest control properties.

Assessing the impact of natural disturbances on plant biodiversity is crucial amid biodiversity loss and climate change. Research highlights dynamic shifts driven by environmental factors, climate change, and human activity, emphasizing the need to maintain ecosystem stability for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This study, conducted between 2021 and 2023, focused on the dynamics of plant communities in argan tree reserve areas. Six argan orchards were selected as study sites for detailed investigation. A total of 82 species belonging to 25 families were identified, with 23 families documented in 2021 and 21 families in 2023, including six endemic species to Morocco (Frankenialaevis subsp. velutina, Ononisnatrix subsp. arganietorum, Rumex papilio, Andryala integrifolia subsp. cedretorum, Chiliadenushesperius, and Reseda difussa). The majority of the plants present in the study area were annual and biennial herbaceous types, exhibiting minimal seasonal stability within the plant communities. However, how communities respond to the effects of fluctuating disturbances remains unclear. This study explores the indirect effects of natural disturbances on community metrics in argan orchards, assessing plant diversity, biomass, and density across different orchard types. It highlights the influence of climate, soil properties, and biotic interactions on plant community dynamics. We utilized alpha diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, Pielou’s, and Margalef’s) and beta diversity indices (Jaccard and Sorenson Similarity) to examine these patterns. Seasonal changes were predominantly influenced by temperature and precipitation, while diverse soil types shaped by relief, climate, and water balance contributed to different ecological functions. The key findings indicated the highest plant diversity in “Tioughza” and the most significant plant density in “Imoulass” and “Ezzaouite”. Soil nutrients (N, C, and P) showed a positive correlation with plant biomass, highlighting their vital role in biomass accumulation, whereas temperature, C/N ratio, and loam percentage were found to be crucial for plant richness. Mixed modeling revealed a significant relation between density and biomass, but no significant effect between alpha diversity (Shannon Index) and elevation. This study concludes that soil texture and climate significantly shape the relationships between diversity, biomass, and density, recommending further research into interactions among plant diversity, cover, biomass, and soil fertility to support the sustainable management of argan orchards.

Honeybees participate in the pollination of many crops and wild species and serve as bioindicators of environmental health, and therefore play an essential role in agricultural production. While it is currently facing serious threats worldwide, its disappearance will impact the balance of ecosystems. Global economic value of crop pollination services has been estimated at 153 billion euros per year, representing 9.5% of global agricultural food value. As bees are ectothermic species, the ambient temperature determines their activity, and therefore, climate change, with the increase in temperatures experienced in recent years, can influence their biology, distribution, and behavior. Climate change affects negatively bees by impacting their food resources. Increased temperature induces a differential response of insects and plants that generate a temporal and spatial variation in the biological cycle of the species concerned, with serious demographic consequences. This results in an alteration of the synchronization between plants and insects.