Echinops Spinosus Research Articles

Nephroprotective Efficacy of Echinops spinosus against a Glycerol-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Model.

Nephroprotection or renal rescue is to revive and restore kidney function after damage, with no need for further dialysis. During acute kidney injury (AKI), sudden and recent reductions in kidney functions occur. Causes are multiple, and prompt intervention can be critical to diminish or prevent morbidity. Echinops spinosus (ES) is a curative plant with proven pharmacological and biological effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial competencies. The principal goal of this research is to scrutinize the nephroprotective features of E. spinosa extract (ESE) against glycerol-induced AKI. Male Wistar albino rats were equally divided into five separated groups: negative control rats (vehicle-injected), ESE control rats (ESE-treated rats), positive control rats, glycerol-induced AKI-model rats (single IM injection of 50% glycerol), and 2 groups of diseased rats but pretreated with different concentrations of ESE for 7 days (ESE150 + AKI rats and ESE250 + AKI rats). Kidney tissues were collected and used for histopathology analysis. The relative kidney weight percentage was assessed. ESE effects were investigated via scanning several biomarkers, such as serum urea and creatinine, as kidney function biomarkers. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activities were examined as rhabdomyolysis (RM) indicators. Kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were also examined to investigate kidney injury. Enzymatic and nonenzymatic oxidative stress markers were analyzed, namely, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and reduced glutathione GSH. Proinflammatory cytokine [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1β)] and the renal proapoptotic protein (Bax) and antiapoptotic protein (Bcl-2) levels were evaluated. Statistical analysis for the resulting data revealed that ESE pretreatment turned AKI-induced biological antioxidant levels to an extent comparable to normal results. Furthermore, ESE decreased kidney function markers and RM-related biomarkers (LDH, CK, Kim-1, and NGAL) compared to those in untreated AKI-model rats. ESE treatment dropped the apoptotic renal Bax levels, enhanced antiapoptotic Bcl-2 manufacture, and disallowed the release of IL-1β and TNF-α. This study revealed the protective effect of ESE as therapeutic medicine against AKI-encouraged oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. It can be effectively used as adjuvant therapy, helping in renal rescue, and for kidney healing in cases with risk factors of AKI.

On The Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxicity of Echinops spinosus and Fagonia mollis in Wadi Hagul, Egypt

Echinops spinosus and Fagonia mollis were two plants collected from Wadi Hagul, Eastern desert, Egypt during spring and autumn season. Secondary metabolites were at their highest levels in both tested plants during autumn season, and the antioxidant capabilities of these secondary metabolites were physiologically relevant to plant stress response systems. The invitro studies revealed that both plants have antioxidant properties and a promising cytotoxic activity against a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Based on the least of IC50 value of this extract and fractions, GC/ MS analysis was done for E. spinosus and F. mollis methylene chloride fractions and F. mollis crude extract. The GC/MS analysis disclosed that both E. spinosus and F. mollis methylene chloride fractions and their crude extracts, have predominant phytochemical compounds that have cytotoxic activity. The presence of pentanoic acid, 4-oxo-, butyl ester in E. spinosus methylene chloride fraction, and mome inositol and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester components in F. mollis crude extract as well as phytol and (-)-loliolide in its methylene chloride fraction.

Biochemical Analyses of Bioactive Extracts from Plants Native to Lampedusa, Sicily Minor Island.

Major threats to the human lifespan include cancer, infectious diseases, diabetes, mental degenerative conditions and also reduced agricultural productivity due to climate changes, together with new and more devastating plant diseases. From all of this, the need arises to find new biopesticides and new medicines. Plants and microorganisms are the most important sources for isolating new metabolites. Lampedusa Island host a rich contingent of endemic species and subspecies. Seven plant species spontaneously growing in Lampedusa, i.e., Atriplex halimus L. (Ap), Daucus lopadusanus Tineo (Dl), Echinops spinosus Fiori (Es) Glaucium flavum Crantz (Gf) Hypericum aegypticum L: (Ha), Periploca angustifolia Labill (Pa), and Prasium majus L. (Pm) were collected, assessed for their metabolite content, and evaluated for potential applications in agriculture and medicine. The HPLC-MS analysis of n-hexane (HE) and CH2Cl2 (MC) extracts and the residual aqueous phases (WR) showed the presence of several metabolites in both organic extracts. Crude HE and MC extracts from Dl and He significantly inhibited butyrylcholinesterase, as did WR from the extraction of Dl and Pa. HE and MC extracts showed a significant toxicity towards hepatocarcinoma Huh7, while Dl, Ha and Er HE extracts were the most potently cytotoxic to ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma HCT-8 cell lines. Most extracts showed antiviral activity. At the lowest concentration tested (1.56 μg/mL), Dl, Gf and Ap MC extracts inhibited betacoronavirus HCoV-OC43 infection by> 2 fold, while the n-hexane extract of Pm was the most potent. In addition, at 1.56 μg/mL, potent inhibition (>10 fold) of dengue virus was detected for Dl, Er, and Pm HE extracts, while Pa and Ap MC extracts dampened infections to undetectable levels. Regarding to phytotoxicity, MC extracts from Er, Ap and Pm were more effective in inhibiting tomato rootlet elongation; the same first two extracts also inhibited seed cress germination while its radicle elongation, due to high sensitivity, was affected by all the extracts. Es and Gf MC extracts also inhibited seed germination of Phelipanche ramosa. Thus, we have uncovered that many of these Lampedusa plants displayed promising biopesticide, antiviral, and biological properties.

In Vivo Efficacy of Echinops spinosus Decoction as a Therapeutic for Cows at Risk of Clinical Endometritis.

Clinical endometritis (CE) is a multifactorial disease of dairy animals. Retained fetal membranes (RFM) and metritis are the major risk factors of CE in dairy cows. Because uterine inflammation affects the profitability of the dairy industry, antibiotics and hormonal therapies are commonly used to mitigate against the disease. However, the One-Health concept aims to reduce antibiotic use in food animals to avoid the emergence of drug resistance or residues in milk or meat. Thus, phytotherapy may represent a good alternative to antibiotics in food animals. Echinops spinosus (E. spinosus) is a natural plant known to have therapeutic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties in vitro. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of E. spinosus as a preventive strategy for CE in dairy cows with other postpartum complications. Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 36) diagnosed with RFM or metritis enrolled in the study were allocated into three groups. One group received antibiotic treatment. Another group received prostaglandin injection (PG). The experimental group received E. spinosus decoction orally. As a control group, eutocic cows (n = 36), without RFM and metritis were included in the study. The efficiency of the treatment was based on the occurrence of CE and improved reproductive outcomes. At 30 ± 2 DPP, CE was diagnosed in 25%, 58.34%, and 75% in antibiotic, PG, and E. spinosus groups, respectively (p < 0.05). There were no differences between the groups at 55 ± 5 DPP (16.67%, 33.44%, and 41.67% in antibiotic, PG and E. spinosus groups, respectively, p > 0.05). The E. spinosus group had the longest open days, lowest conception rate at 150 DPP, and highest number of services per conception. Oral E. spinosus extract is ineffective as a therapeutic for cows at risk of CE. These findings may pave the way for future innovative strategies employing E. spinosus to protect cattle against endometritis.

The Neuroprotective Effect Associated with Echinops spinosus in an Acute Seizure Model Induced by Pentylenetetrazole.

Echinops spinosus (ES) is a medicinal plant with a wide range of pharmacological and biological effects. It is a medicinal herb having a variety of therapeutic characteristics, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial capabilities. The primary goal of this research is to investigate the neuroprotective and anticonvulsant characteristics of E. spinosa extract (ESE) against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced acute seizures. Negative control rats, ESE treatment rats, PTZ acute seizure model rats, ESE + PTZ rats, and Diazepam + PTZ rats were used in the study. The rats were given a 7-day treatment. ESE pretreatment elevated the latency to seizure onset and lowered seizure duration after PTZ injection. By reducing Bax levels and enhancing antiapoptotic Bcl-2 production, ESE prevented the release of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cyclooxygenase-2, as well as preventing hippocampal cell death after PTZ injection. ESE corrected the PTZ-induced imbalance in gamma-aminobutyric acid levels and increased the enzyme activity of Na+/K+-ATPase. Echinops spinosus is a potent neuromodulatory, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiapoptotic plant that could be employed as a natural anticonvulsant in the future.

Effect of Echinops spinosus (Teskra) and PGF2α on reproductive performance in cows with clinical endometritis

The efficacy of Echinops spinosus (Teskra) and PGF2α in the treatment of clinical endometritis (CE) on clinical recovery and reproductive performance was evaluated. A total of 20 Holstein-Friesian cows with CE that were 21-40 days in milk (DIM) were assigned to one of two experimental groups. Cows in the PGF group (n=10) received two doses of d-cloprostenol (analogue of PGF2α) 14 days apart. Cows in the Teskra group (n=10) received a decoction of Teskra root administered orally once daily for three days. The control group consisted of 20 clinically healthy cows (n=20; HE group). The clinical recovery rate was 70% and 40% in PGF and Teskra groups, respectively (P>0.05). The proportion of pregnant cows at first service was 35%, 40%, 20% in the HE, PGF, and Teskra groups, respectively (P>0.05). However, the conception rate until 120 DIM was significantly higher in the HE group compared to the Teskra group (P<0.05). The mean days from calving to the first service interval (CFSI) were significantly lower in the HE group compared to the PGF and Teskra groups (P<0.001). Cows in the Teskra group conceived approximately 35 d and 26 d later than cows in the HE and PGF groups, respectively (P<0.05). Cows in the Teskra group required about 2.4 services to become pregnant, compared to 1.8 and 1.6 for those in the HE and PGF groups, respectively (P>0.05). Except for CFSI, no significant differences were found between the HE and PGF groups for any of the tested parameters. The results indicate that endometritic cows treated with PGF2α had nearly the same reproductive performance as healthy cows and Teskra was not effective in treating CE in dairy cows.

Acute toxicity, phenol content, antioxidant and postprandial anti-diabetic activity of Echinops spinosus extracts

Echinops spinosus, belonging to Asteraceae family, is used in folk medicine as an abortifacient and diuretic and for blood circulation, diabetes, stomach pain, indigestion and spasmolytic problems. The objective of this work is the study of acute toxicity, the content of phenolic compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins), antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, H2O2 and xanthine oxidase) and antidiabetic (α-amylase, α- glucosidase and lipase) in vitro and ex-vivo by studying the starch tolerance test. The phytochemical assay showed that the ethanolic extract is the richest in polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins with 77.01 mg GEA/g extract; 544.33 mg RE/g extract, and 32.20 mg EC/g extract, respectively. The ethanolic extract showed better antioxidant activity compared to the aqueous extract with (IC50=13±0.25 µg/mL; IC50=75.11±0.34 mg TE/g extract; IC50=51.1±1.2 mg AAE/g extract; IC50=28.2±2.87 µg/mL and 16.83 ± 0.72 µg/mL) in DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, H2O2 and xanthine oxidase. Extracts of E. spinosus have shown a remarkable inhibitory effect α-amylase and interesting inhibitory effect of α-glucosidase and lipase. The aqueous and ethanolic extract also lowered blood sugar levels to 0.96 and 0.93g/L, respectively, after 90 minutes in starch-loaded rats. Acute toxicity results indicate that E. spinosus extracts are non-toxic with an LD50 greater than 2 g/kg in female Swiss mice. Therefore, the antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity may be at the origin of the bioactive compounds contained in the plant E. spinosus. However, in vivo studies on the mechanism of action are needed against oxidative stress associated with diabetes.

HR-LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS-Based Metabolic Profiling Coupled with Chemometrics for the Discrimination of Different Echinops spinosus Organs and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity.

This study aimed to assess and correlate the phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of the methanol extracts of the stems, roots, flowers, and leaves of Echinops spinosus L. from north-eastern Algeria. Qualitative analysis was performed by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR) LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS and (HR) LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS). Forty-five compounds were identified in the methanol extracts; some are described for the first time in E. spinosus. Targeted phenolic compounds were quantified by HPLC-DAD and it was shown that caffeoyl quinic derivatives were the most abundant compounds. Chemometric analysis was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) based on the qualitative and quantitative LC data. The score plot discriminates different Echinopsis spinosus organs into three distinct clusters, with the stems and flowers allocated in the same cluster, reflecting their resemblance in their secondary metabolites. The antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts were assessed using cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant assay (FRAP), diphenyl picryl hydrazyl radical-scavenging capacity assay (DPPH●), and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS●+). The root extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, evidenced by 3.26 and 1.61 mmol Fe2+/g dried residue for CUPRAC and FRAP, respectively, and great free radical-scavenging activities estimated by 0.53 and 0.82 mmol TEAC/g dried residue for DPPH● and ABTS●+, respectively. The methanol extract of the roots demonstrated a significant level of total phenolics (TP: 125.16 mg GAE/g dried residue) and flavonoids (TFI: 25.40 QE/g dried residue TFII: 140 CE/g dried residue). Molecular docking revealed that tricaffeoyl-altraric acid and dicaffeoyl-altraric acid exhibited the best fit within the active sites of NADPH oxidase (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MP). From ADME/TOPAKT analyses, it can be concluded that tricaffeoyl-altraric acid and dicaffeoyl-altraric acid also revealed reasonable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics with a significant safety profile.

Echinops spinosus effect against diabetes and its hepatorenal complications: total extract and flavonoids fraction.

The perennial plant Echinops spinosus (ES) grows in the Hail area of Saudi Arabia, and its traditional formulations are often employed in folk medicine. The goal of this study is to identify the active components present in Hail Echinops spinosus and to investigate the anti-diabetic properties of both ES total extract (ESTE) and its high flavonoids fraction (ESHFF) in experimental diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection in rats. Forty-two rats were divided into six groups. Diabetes was induced using STZ (55mg/kg). Seven days after STZ administration, the diabetic animals were treated daily with ESTE, ESHFF, or metformin (MET) as a standard anti-diabetic drug for 28days. Blood and tissues samples were collected for biochemical, molecular, and histological investigations. Both ESTE and ESHFF demonstrated anti-diabetic properties, as evidenced by lowering glucose levels and increasing the levels of insulin, insulin receptor expression rate, and glycogen synthesis. Additionally, ESTE as well as ESHFF alleviated diabetic complications in the kidneys and liver by decreasing oxidative stress, modulating inflammatory mediators, and suppressing the apoptotic cascade along with correcting diabetic dyslipidemia. It could be deduced that Hail ES extracts could play a role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related lesions as well as oxidative damage in hepatic and renal tissues.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils of Echinops spinosus and Carlina vulgaris Rich in Polyacetylene Compounds

Background: The essential oils of aromatic plants are increasingly used as new biocontrol alternative agents against microbial strains and insect pests of fruits and vegetables, because of their specificity of biodegradable nature. Objective: This work, treats for the first time the chemical composition, antioxidant, antifungal and insecticidal activities of the essential oils obtained from Echinops spinosus and Carlina vulgaris from Algeria. Methods: The chemical compositions of oils were investigated using GC-FID and GC/MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed using three methods (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and β-carotene assay). Fumigation toxicity of E. spinosus and C. vulgaris essential oils was tested against Bactrocera oleae pests of olives. Results: Eighteen and thirteen components representing 95.4 and 97.9% were identified in root essential oils from Echinops spinosus and Carlina vulgaris, respectively. Polyacetylenes were the majority compounds of essential oils. 5 (But-1-yn-3-enyl).2,2'bithiophene and α-terthienyle were highly dominants in the E. spinosus essential oil from the roots (54.4 and 26.3%, respectively). Roots of C. vulgaris produce an essential oil dominated by carlina oxide (33.7%) and 13-methoxy carlina oxide (11.5%). Comparison of the antioxidant activity of E. spinosus essential oil showed more important antioxidant effect than C. vulgaris essential oil and the synthetic antioxidant (BHT). Evaluation of the antifungal activity showed an interesting efficiency of both essential oils against P. expansum and A. niger with EC50s varied from 5 to 14.5 mg/L. C. arvensis essential oil exhibited good larvicidal properties. At the concentration of 325 μL/L air, the oil caused mortality of 100% for Bactrocera Oleae adults after 24 h of exposure. Conclusion: Both essential oils rich to polyacetylenes and polythiophenes.components have shown interesting biological activities, which suggests that plants have the potential to be used as biopesticides and provide an alternative to chemical pesticides.

Thymelaea hirsuta and Echinops spinosus: Xerophytic Plants with High Potential for First-Generation Biodiesel Production

The negative impacts of fossil fuel on the environment should be replaced by clean and sustainable energy sources worldwide. Therefore, the use of biodiesel as a clean energy source is crucial. Biodiesel is produced from various natural resources through a transesterification process. Considering the importance of this topic, this study focuses on the assessment of oil properties of Thymelaea hirsuta and Echinops spinosus as primary sources for biodiesel production. The two investigated plants were collected from the Western Desert of Egypt. The results showed that the lignocellulosic content was about 57.3 and 79.8 g/100 g in E. spinosus and 59.1 and 82.8 g/100 g in T. hirsuta, respectively. The two investigated samples showed variable lipid contents (30.2–76.1%). The GC-MS fatty acid profile characterized seven FAs in E. spinosus and twelf FAs in T. hirsuta. The greatest CN was calculated in T. hirsuta (379.2) compared to the lowest in E. spinosus (229.9). Furthermore, the values of saponification number (SN) were 27.9 in E. spinosus and 16.07 in T. hirsuta. The value of higher heating value (HHV) was about 47.5 MJ/kg in E. spinosus and 48.3 MJ/kg in T. hirsuta. Meanwhile, T. hirsuta exhibited a higher induction period (IP) value (19.3 h) comparable to that of E. spinosus (4.3 h). The results revealed that both plants are potential sources for biodiesel production according to various international standards for biodiesel production, and this work appears to be one of the first reports regarding such wild xerophytic plants as promising new primary sources for biodiesel production in Egypt.

Ecological Study on some Grasses Growing Naturally in the Deltaic Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

The present study aims to investigate the floristic composition and vegetation analysis of the floraassociated with some grasses growing naturally on the sand formations in the Deltaic Mediterranean coastof Egypt. The total number of the recorded plant species was 79 species (44 annuals and 35 perennials)belonging to 70 genera and 26 families. The life –form spectra of the recorded species comprised 44therophytes, 13 cryptophytes, eight hemicryptophytes, seven chamaephytes and phanerphytes for each.Chorologically, the Saharo-Sindian element was represented by relatively high number of species (34),followed by Irano-Turanian (32 species), then Euro-Siberian (10 species) and Sudano-Zambezian (9species). Based on the importance alue of each species, the classification of the recorded species in 36sampled stands led to recognition of four vegetation groups (A-D). The characteristics dominant andcodominant species of vegetation groups were Elymus farcatus and Calligonum polygonoides (A),Hordeum murinum (B), Stipagrostis lanata and Echinops spinosus (C) and Lycium schweinfurthii andEchinops spinosus (D). DCA diagram showed overlapping between the identified groups. CCA-biplotexhibited that sulfates, calcium, potassium, magnesium and calcium carbonate were the most effectivesoil variables controlling the abundance of identified vegetation groups.

Anti-Blastocystis Activity In Vitro of Egyptian Herbal Extracts (Family: Asteraceae) with Emphasis on Artemisia judaica.

Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch. Bip. (known as Qaysoom), Echinops spinosus L. (known as Shoak Elgamal) and Artemisia judaica L. (known Shih Baladi) are members of the Asteraceae family known for their traditional medical use in Egypt. The ethanol extracts of these plants were evaluated for their efficacy against a protozoan parasite (Blastocystis). Two different molecular subtypes of Blastocystis were used (ST1 and ST3). Significant growth inhibition of Blastocystis was observed when exposed to both A. judaica (99.3%) and A. fragrantissima (95.6%) with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) at 2000 µg/mL. Under the effect of the extracts, changes in Blastocystis morphology were noted, with the complete destruction of Blastocystis forms after 72 h with the dose of 4000 µg/mL. Different subtypes displayed different responses to the herbal extracts tested. ST1 exhibited significantly different responses to the herbal extracts compared to ST3. A. judaica was selected as the herb of choice considering all of its variables and because of its effective action against Blastocystis. It was then exposed to further fractionation and observation of its effect on ST1 and ST3. Solvent portioned fractions (dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-hexane) in A. judaica were found to be the potent active fractions against both of the Blastocystis subtypes used.

Biological activity of Echinops spinosus on inhibition of paracetamol-induced renal inflammation.

This study was designed to evaluate the possible mechanisms through which Echinops spinosus (ES) extract demonstrates nephroprotective effect on the paracetamol acetominophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)) induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Twenty-four Swiss albino rats were divided into four groups (six rats each). The placebo group was orally administered sterile saline, the APAP group received APAP (200 mg·kg-1·day-1 i.p.) daily, the ES group was given ES extract orally (250 mg/kg), and the APAP + ES group received APAP as for the APAP group and administrated the ES extract as for the ES group. Pretreatment of methyl alcohol extract of ES reduced the protein expression of inflammatory parameters including cyclooxygenase-2 and nuclear factor κB in the kidney. It also reduced the mRNA gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. The ES extract compensated for deficits in the total antioxidant activity, suppressed lipid peroxidation, and amended the APAP-induced histopathological kidney alterations. Moreover, ES treatment restored the elevated levels of urea nitrogen in the blood and creatinine in the serum by APAP. The ES extract attenuated the APAP-induced elevations in renal nitric oxide levels. We clarified that the ES extract has the potential to defend the kidney from APAP-induced inflammation, and the protection mechanism might be through decreasing oxidative stress and regulating the inflammatory signaling pathway through modulating key signaling inflammatory biomarkers.

On the Metabolic Activities of Echinops spinosus and Fagonia mollis in Wadi Hagul, Egypt

Echinops spinosus and Fagonia mollis were two plants collected from Wadi Hagul, Eastern desert, Egypt during spring and autumn season (2013). According to the results of this study, Echinops spinosus was considered to be more adapted plant to the environmental stress conditions of this region especially during autumn season. Carotenoids, total soluble sugars, sucrose and proline were more accumulated in F. mollis than E. spinosus plant during this season. Catalase, superoxide dismutase enzymes activity, glutathione and malondialdehyde concentrations were also recorded the highest values in tissues of F. mollis plants, which suggested that F. mollis plants were following different strategies to overcome drought and light stresses during autumn season.

Chemical Constituents of Echinops spinosus from Tunisia

Chemical Constituents of Echinops spinosus from Tunisia

New Thiophene Acetylene from Echinops spinosissimus subsp. spinosus

A new thiophene acetylene, named 2,2-dimethyl-4-[5′-(prop-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithiophen-5-yl]-1,3-dioxolane (1), was isolated from the roots of Echinops spinosus, and the structure was elucidated on the basis of oneand two-dimensional NMR (including 1H, 13C NMR, DEPT, 1H–1H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC).

Étude phytochimique et évaluation de l’activité antioxydante des extraits d’Echinops spinosus

Cette etude porte sur l’evaluation de l’activite antioxydante des flavonoides et des tanins extraits de la partie aerienne (feuilles et tiges) et des racines de la plante Echinops spinosus par deux solvants, l’actetate d’ethyle et le n-butanol. L’activite antioxydante des extraits est evaluee par deux techniques, la reduction du fer (Ferric reducing antioxidant power ou FRAP) et le piegeage du radical libre 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Les tests phytochimiques revelent la presence de differentes familles de composes chimiques comme les tanins, les sucres reducteurs, les flavonoides, les alcaloides et les quinones. La partie aerienne d’Echinops spinosus renferme 36,1 mg EAG/100 g de matiere seche en phenols totaux et 13,37 mg EC/100 g de matiere seche en flavonoides. Alors que les racines contiennent seulement 16,1 mg EAG/100 g de matiere seche en phenols totaux et 4,78 mg EC/100 g de matiere seche en flavonoides. L’evaluation de l’activite antioxydante montre que l’extrait d’acetate d’ethyle qui renferme les tanins de la partie aerienne de la plante possede une capacite de reduction de fer et de piegeage du radical libre DPPH interessante. La methode de FRAP donne une densite optique egale a 2,85, l’IC50 obtenue par la technique du DPPH est de 8,25 μg/mL.

Metal and Phosphorus Uptake by Spontaneous Vegetation in an abandoned iron mine from a Semiarid Area in Center Morocco: Implications for Phytoextraction

Spontaneously growing native plants (belonging to 12 species, 10 genera, and 3 families) were analyzed to study the accumulation of Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, Fe and P in shoots and roots. The different plant species collected in Ait Amar iron mining site exhibited large differences in shoot and root accumulation of metals. Among the grass species (Apiaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae), the highest shoot Cd, Cu, Zn concentrations were found in Echinops spinosus L (0.989, 29.190 and 175.347 mg Kg-1 respectively), Cr in Cladanthus arabicus (L) Class (9.241 mg Kg-1) and Pb, Fe and P in Leontodon hispidilus (Delile) Boiss (5.952, 1522.839 and 4612.795 mg Kg-1). The highest bioconcentration factors (BCF) were recorded for E. spinosus L and Zn (1.68). The highest soil-plant transfer factor (TF) of Cd was 1.24 (Stipa Capensis thumb), of Cr was 2.01 (C. arabicus (L) Class), of Cu was 8.40 (Carthamus lanatus L), of Zn was 2.52 (E. spinosus L), of Pb was 7.00 (Eryngium ilicifolium Lam), of P was 537.72 (E. ilicifolium Lam) and of Fe was 0.52 (L. hispidilus (Delile) Boiss). E. spinosus L showed the highest Zn phytoextraction capacity and other plant species demonstrated to grow well in metal contaminated soil taking up only low concentrations of metals, and, therefore they are good candidates for phytostabilization.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.64.2.3866

Echinopines A and B: Sesquiterpenoids Possessing an Unprecedented Skeleton from Echinops spinosus

Echinopines A (1) and B (2), novel sesquiterpenoids with an unprecedented rearranged skeleton named echinopane, were isolated from the roots of Echinops spinosus. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The relative configuration of 1 was assigned by a combination of NOESY correlations and a simulation analysis. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for echinopane was discussed.