The aim of our research was to understand the impact of ochratoxin A (OTA) exposure on various physiological and behavioral aspects in adult Wistar rats, and to evaluate the efficacy of a Syzygium aromaticum essential oil (EOC) treatment in restoring the damage caused by this toxin. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation, a yield of 12.70% was obtained for EOC, and the GC-MS characterization of this essential oil revealed that its principal major components are eugenol (80.95%), eugenyl acetate (10.48%), β-caryophyllene (7.21%), and α-humulene (0.87%). Acute OTA intoxication was induced by an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 289 µg/kg/b.w. every 48 h for 12 doses, resulting in significant reductions in the body and brain weights of exposed rats when compared with controls. The neurobehavioral analysis using several behavioral testing techniques, such as the forced swimming, the dark/light test, the Morris water maze, and the open field test, clearly revealed that OTA exposure causes neurobehavioral disorders, including decreased locomotor activity, a reduced willingness to explore the environment, reflecting a state of stress, anxiety and depression, as well as impaired memory and learning. In addition, OTA intoxication has been associated with metabolic disturbances such as hyperglycemia and hypercortisolemia. However, treatment with EOC mitigated these adverse effects by improving body and brain weights and restoring neurobehavioral function. The in silico analysis revealed significant affinities between clove oils and two tested esterase enzymes (ACh and BuChE) that were more than or similar to the four neurotransmitters “dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and glutamic acid” and the co-crystallized ligands NAG, MES, and GZ5. These results highlight the therapeutic potential of EOC in combating the toxic effects of OTA and pave the way for future research into the mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications of natural compounds in the prevention and treatment of poison-induced diseases.

This study explores the potential of Thymus ciliatus as a natural source of bioactive compounds by investigating its chemical composition and in vitro biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and anti‐Alzheimer properties. The analysis of the essential oil was performed using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry revealing α‐terpinenyl acetate (18.74%) and camphor (10.62%) as the major components. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using six methods. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using disc diffusion and well diffusion techniques. Antidiabetic activity was measured through a colorimetric assay, while anti‐Alzheimer activity was evaluated against butyrylcholinesterase. The results demonstrated that extracts from polar and medium‐polar solvents exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, followed by low‐polar solvent extracts. The essential oil of T. ciliatus displayed significant antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Candida albicans. Crude extracts also showed antimicrobial activity across all tested strains. The aqueous extract exhibited the strongest antidiabetic activity against α‐glucosidase (half‐maximal inhibitory concentration [IC₅₀] = 2.56 ± 0.06 µg/mL), followed by the essential oil (IC₅₀ = 57.11 ± 4.39 µg/mL). Furthermore, the dichloromethane extract demonstrated the highest anti‐Alzheimer activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.26 ± 0.20 µg/mL. Based on these results, T. ciliatus represents a promising source of bioactive substances with potential therapeutic applications.

Our work focused on the impact of chronic lead acetate and manganese chloride poisoning on renal function in Wistar rats. It also tested the efficacy of the essential oil extracted from (Mentha spicata) spearmint in reversing these effects by treating previously poisoned rats with a daily intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 ml HEM/kg over a 21-days period. Analysis of this essential oil through gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry revealed that the main components are: carvone (42.2%), menthone (20.89%), piperitenone (17.41%) and isomenthone (7.99%). Chronic oral co-exposure to lead and manganese during periods of gestation and lactation resulted in a significant reduction (P<0.01) in both body and kidney weight. Further examination of renal function revealed significant disturbances in the quantity of markers of renal function (creatinine, urea, uric acid) in the blood. Chronic co-exposure led to the observation of disruption to antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) activity in poisoned rats in comparison with the control rats; these results suggest renal failure. Indeed, histological study of the kidneys revealed pronounced damage manifesting as cell degeneration with the renal parenchyma affected by inflammation. In addition, the administration of the essential oil of Mentha spicata led to the observation of an increase in body weight, regulation of the various biochemical markers, and the regeneration of damaged renal tissue, all of which proves the high importance of spearmint in traditional medicine, and its therapeutic properties in combating renal problems.

Juniperus oxycedrus L. and Pistacia lentiscus L. are two taxa with a rigid or rigid enough structure caused by a solid pericarp resulting in a strong inhibition of the germination. The objective of this work was to test the effectiveness of certain pre-germinative treatments on the germination rate of the Juniperus oxycedrus and Pistacia lentiscus seeds with the aim of restoring perturbed ecosystems. In this context 180 seeds from each of the 2 examined species were tested in the laboratory (the number of repetitions is 5, to reach the degree of freedom 'ddl'). The seeds were divided into 4 groups of 20 seeds of each species and were treated as follows: 1) Immersion in the concentrated (95%) sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) for 10, 30 and 60 minutes; 2) Mechanical scarification with a scalpel; 3) Soaking in hot water (at 100°C) for 30 seconds, 60 seconds and 2 minutes; 4) Cold stratification at 5°C for 24 hours. There is also a control group of 20 seeds representing each of the two species, which remained neutral. In the case of the Juniperus oxycedrus seeds the results showed that the germination rate improves after the mechanical scarification with a scalpel (92%), followed by the cold stratification with water (86%) and a treatment with a concentrated sulphuric acid for 60 minutes (82%). The seeds were treated with H₂SO₄ for 10 and 30 minutes, respectively, soaked in hot water; the control lot did not germinate. The germination rate for the Pistacia lentiscus seeds is 88% after the mechanical scarification and 84% after the cold water stratification. On the other hand, the treatment with H₂SO₄ or after soaking in hot water does not allow for the germination of these seeds. The same result is observed on the control group (0% for 30 days).

The principle aim of this work is to evaluate the antimicrobial and antiochratoxic power of the essential oil ofMentha spicata(EOM). This oil was obtained by hydrodistillation with a yield of 0.3%. EOM was screened for its possible antibacterial activity in vitro against five strains of pathogenic bacteria, using the solid disc diffusion method and the microdilution method. The extract reacted positively to the bacterial strains tested. The results of the antifungal activity show an inhibition of mycelial growth; it is total onAspergillus ochraceus,Aspergillus flavus,Aspergillus niger,Penicillium viridicatum, and onRhizopus stoloniferandAlternaria alternateat a concentration of 12.5 μl/ml. Tests carried out on yeasts mainly referenced asCandida albicansIP444 andCandida albicans2679 showed minimal inhibition (MIC) of the order of 7.81 μl/ml and 0.97 μl/ml, respectively and theMICis of the order of 0.48 μl/ml forCandida albicans10 231. In addition, the EOM antiochratoxigenic test for ochratoxin A production capacity following a series of high performance liquid chromatography separation and ultraviolet detection (HPLC–UV) analyses detected an inhibitory effect proportional to the EOM concentration. In general, the essential oil showed an effective antimicrobial action on the growth of the tested pathogens and an antiochratoxigenic.

Plants have gained great importance. Secondary metabolites contribute to the drug discovery and development by their bioactive properties. Rubia tinctorum L. essential oil (EO) was obtained and analysed. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities were evaluated. The plant's EOs were obtained through steam distillation, and the compounds were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. DPPH free radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were employed to assess antioxidant activity. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was also presented. The disc diffusion method was employed for testing antibacterial activity. Cyclohexanone was identified as the predominant component in the EO, constituting 88.74% of the total composition. The EO did not show significant antioxidant capacity, while it demonstrated antimicrobial effect against Bacillus cereus ATCC 6633 (>13 mm of inhibition; 500 mg/mL) and Shigella ATCC 12022 (≥12 mm of inhibition; 500 mg/mL). R. tinctorum L. is new source of cyclohexanone.