Natural products are a very important source of bio-molecules for drug to treat infectious diseases. New antileishmanial agents are timely needed, due to leishmania toxicity, drug-resistant strains and high costs treatments. In this study, we report the chemical characterization and antileishmanial activity of oil extracts from three medicinal plants belonging to genus Artemisia (Asteracea), that grow in central Tunisia. The chemical composition of volatile compounds had been elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis. Chemical analysis revealed that essential oils were composed of 34 compounds: α-thujone (29.3%), chamazulene (39.2%) and β-pinene (32%), were the main constituents for the essential oils of Artemesia herba alba, Artemesia absinthium and Artemesia campestris, respectively. The hydrodistilled essential oils from these three species of Artemisia showed significant anti-leishmanial activities against Leishmania major. Oils from A. herba alba, A. absinthium and A. campestris exhibited IC₅₀ values of 1.20 ± 0.043 μg/mL, 1.49 ± 0.05 μg/mL and 2.20 ± 0.11 μg/mL respectively against promastigotes of Leishmania major. Among three oils tested, A. campestris exerted a remarkable antileishmanial activity and it has the lowest cytotoxicity effect compared to amphotericin B. Overall, it was proved that our investigated essential oils possess potential antileishmanial properties and could be used as a promising alternative treatment for leishmaniasis disease in the future.

Skin aging involves oxidative stress, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation, prompting growing interest in plant-based treatments. Pistacia lentiscus L. and Pistacia atlantica Desf. (Anacardiaceae), North African pharmacopoeia species with recognized phytotherapeutic and cosmeceutical properties, were analyzed to elucidate these biological activities through their phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperpigmentation potentials. Leaves were successively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The methanolic leaf extract of P. atlantica exhibited the highest total phenolic content (430.28 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g), while P. lentiscus showed the highest flavonoid content (230.00 ± 0.01 mg QE/g). LC–MS/MS analysis identified thirteen major phenolic compounds, including methyl gallate and myricitrin. Biological assays revealed that P. lentiscus exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 5.19 ± 0.01 µg/mL) and the highest ferric-reducing power, whereas P. atlantica showed strong inhibition of protein denaturation (139.10 ± 0.55 µg/mL). Both extracts displayed potent anti-lipoxygenase activity (IC₅₀ = 22.53 ± 0.05 and 22.67 ± 0.04 µg/mL, respectively), as well as anti-tyrosinase effects (IC₅₀ = 39.80 ± 0.08 and 38.25 ± 0.02 µg/mL, respectively). Altogether, these findings underscore the cosmetic potential of these Pistacia species and support their use as valuable raw materials for the development of dermatological treatments.

Phytothérapie est la seule revue francophone scientifique de formation médicale continue de la spécialité. C’est l’outil de réference en pratique quotidienne.