Southern Mediterranean Region Research Articles

An accurate snow cover product for the Moroccan Atlas Mountains: Optimization of the MODIS NDSI index threshold and development of snow fraction estimation models

In semi-arid Mediterranean areas, a significant proportion of the population living downstream depends on water resources from snowmelt and precipitation as their main source of water. Consequently, snow-covered mountain regions can be considered as a vital water tower, providing a steady supply of water, and contributing significantly to streamflow and groundwater recharge. Given the scarcity of ground-based hydroclimatic measurements, remote sensing could be an effective technique for mapping and monitoring snow cover. This study evaluates the last version of MODIS (version 6, called V6) snow cover product, optimizing the NDSI threshold for accurate snow cover mapping and developing models for local fractional snow cover estimation in the southern Mediterranean region, particularly in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. For this purpose, 448 Sentinel-2 (S2) scenes from six different regions across the Atlas Range were used to adjust the NDSI threshold and to develop FSC estimation models. In addition, a total of 8419 MOD10A1 images from March 2000 to June 2023, and 7561 MYD10A1 images from September 2002 to June 2023, were processed to improve cloud filtering and to develop a highly accurate daily snow cover product suitable for the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. The cloud correction approach significantly reduced the number of cloud-covered pixels, from 25.7% to 0.4% after filtering. Two schemes for selecting the MODIS NDSI threshold were tested: (1) the global reference of 0.4 and (2) the locally optimal threshold of 0.2. The average snow cover estimation errors using the optimal and global NDSI thresholds for Terra are an average overestimation of 0.34% and a significant underestimation of 6.13%, respectively. For Aqua, the corresponding errors are an overestimation of 1.4% and an underestimation of 6.8%. Thus, the optimal NDSI threshold of 0.2 could be more appropriate than the threshold of 0.4 for use in the southern Mediterranean region. The new FSC estimation models developed showed satisfactory performance with significant correlation coefficients (mean of 0.85 for Terra and 0.83 for Aqua), and with low RMSE and MAE values (mean of 0.17 and 0.12 for Terra and mean of 0.19 and 0.14 for Aqua) when comparing FSC derived from high-resolution S2 data with predicted FSC from MODIS NDSI. The daily snow cover product developed was compared with the high-resolution snow maps obtained from S2 satellite imagery in different regions of the Moroccan Atlas. On average, the product showed a mean correlation coefficient of 0.96, a mean absolute error of 0.22%, and a mean reasonable negative bias of −0.17%. This research concludes that the enhanced daily snow cover product could improve the understanding of spatiotemporal dynamics of snow extent and, therefore, contribute to quantifying the snowmelt contribution to the water budget through modeling approaches in the southern Mediterranean region.

Rainfall forecasting in arid regions in response to climate change using ARIMA and remote sensing

Climate changes in increasing at alarming rates which caused outward changes in the hydrological cycle parameters such as temperature and precipitation. The spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall has changed all over the world. Rainfall forecasting is considered an important tool that could help decisionmakers for managing water resources. Syria is facing several drought events that may affect its water resources. Due to the lack of available rainfall data from land stations in Syria after the civil war started in 2010 till now, one of the aims of this study is to depend on rainfall data from satellite images after correcting these data using the available land stations data. This study also aims to assess rainfall trends in Syria due to climate change and forecasting rainfall. The rainfall data were collected from 71 land stations from 1991 to 2009. Satellite images from Climate Data Record (CDR) were downloaded from 1983 to 2020 and ArcMap was used to extract rainfall data at locations of land stations. The extracted rainfall data from satellite images were corrected by land stations data from 1991 to 2009. Then Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program with Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models are used to fit and forecasting rainfall in Syria. The rainfall trends at the studied stations were analyzed for 40 years (1983–2022) and a forecast of one year is conducted. The results showed decreasing trends at all the stations that lead to a decrease the quantity of water received every year which could affect the water resources in Syria and agriculture and food security will be also affected. The results are consistent with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that concluded a decrease in rainfall at southern and eastern Mediterranean regions. The results of the current study could help in the management of water resources in Syria and forecasting using ARIMA is recommended for rainfall predictions.

Dendrochronological studies in North Africa: reality and prospects

The southern Mediterranean region, particularly North Africa, is a crucial area for biodiversity conservation. However, the impacts of climate change on plant species in this region are not well understood. Dendroecology, the study of tree rings, is a valuable technique for analyzing the effects of environmental changes on woody plants over time. In this study, we intend to assess the state of the art in dendrochronological research in North Africa and identify knowledge gaps and limitations in the field. The period of analysis spans from 1979 to 2023. We used all the available literature in Dendrobox and Google Scholar during this period. Our study revealed several research gaps in the region, including the need for more studies on the history of forest fires and their relationship to climate conditions in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, the impact of climate on the anatomical characteristics of growth rings, and the effects of climate change on tree species diversity and forest health. Applying this technique in the future would allow for detailed insights into the effect of climate on the internal structure and growth of forest trees. The findings of this study will help guide future research and contribute to a better understanding of the climate-growth relationship of woody plants in North Africa.

Exploring climatic variability and drought characteristics in Morocco’s Sais Plateau and Middle Atlas: A statistical and spectral analysis

Extreme climate change phenomena are a global reality with major repercussions on hydrosystems. Drought is particularly concerning in the southern Mediterranean region, threatening water availability and related behavior. Morocco, located in North Africa and the southern Mediterranean, is highly exposed to climate change and its consequences, particularly drought. This study aims to investigate the impact of climate variability and drought characteristics on the Saïs plateau and the Middle Atlas region, using statistical and spectral indices. By analyzing annual variations in precipitation and using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and normalized difference water index (NDWI) to elucidate the temporal dynamics of water, this study highlights significant irregularities in precipitation patterns between wet and dry years, offering insight into the severity and occurrence of drought at different altitudes. In addition, the study uses the normalized difference water index (NDWI) to elucidate temporal water dynamics, revealing cyclical patterns of water availability and identifying regions sensitive to hydrological activity or drought. Furthermore, thanks to a correlation analysis between the NDWI and the SPI12 index, the study highlights the complementary relationship between spectral and statistical indices in the assessment of drought phenomena. The results show a significant difference in precipitation between the Middle Atlas and the Sais Plateau, with the Middle Atlas receiving around double the precipitation. From 1980 to 1985, drought was followed by even drier conditions until 1995, with sporadic wet years such as 1995 and 2002. During the 1980–1994 period, a persistent drought was observed until 1995, when precipitation picked up again, with notable records in 2009–2010. Positive NDWI values, with marked peaks between 2010 and 2012, indicate periods of high-water content, while negative values, such as those in 1995, 2003, and 2006, denote periods of low water content or drought.

Hydrogeochemical and qualitative assessment of groundwater in a southern Mediterranean region: an example of the Aïn Témouchent area (northwestern Algeria)

Abstract The present research aims to assess the hydrogeochemical processes, the suitability of groundwater for human consumption, and the influence degree of seawater intrusion of the coastal aquifers of the Aïn Témouchent region (northwestern Algeria). In this context, 29 groundwater samples were taken during April–May 2018 and analyzed for 11 physicochemical parameters. Piper and Chadha's diagrams allowed the identification of Na–Cl dominant hydrogeochemical facies and Ca (Mg)–Cl type facies, indicating the influence of salt water. Simpson's Index results highlighted that groundwater was slightly contaminated by saltwater. Obtained values of the seawater mixing index (SMI) and Cl−/(HCO3−), Na+/Cl− and Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios indicated the majority of the sampling sites are affected by seawater intrusion. The integration of the water quality index (WQI) spatial variation through the geographic information system (GIS) indicated that in the Southern part of the study region, and 55.2% of water samples are suitable as drinking water. Adversely, for the northern part, where groundwater is influenced by seawater intrusion, water sampling points fall into bad and very bad categories. The results of the study show that hydrogeochemical processes are responsible for the salinity of groundwater in the study area, in addition to marine intrusion.

Central obesity, body mass index, metabolic syndrome and mortality in Mediterranean breast cancer patients

Obesity and metabolic disorders have been associated with poor outcomes in non-Mediterranean breast cancer (BC) patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic potential of anthropometric variables in patients with early BC living in Southern Mediterranean region of Italy. We enrolled 955 consecutive early BC patients treated in hospitals in Naples between 2009 and 2013 (median follow-up 11.8-year ending 15/09/2022). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were collected. All-cause and BC-specific mortality were calculated. At the last day of contact 208 (22%) patients had died, 131 (14%) from BC. High WC (≥ 88 cm) or WHR (> 0.85) and the MetS were significantly associated with moderately increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.39, 1.62, 1.61, respectively). A significant increased risk of BC-specific mortality was found in obese patients, in those with high WC, high WHR and those with MetS (HR=1.72, 1.71, 1.80, 1.81, respectively). Central obesity significantly increased total and BC-specific mortality particularly in pre-menopausal women and in luminal subtypes, while in post-menopause MetS was a stronger risk factor. Obesity and MetS may impair the effectiveness of BC therapies hence active lifestyle interventions are encouraged.

Pharmacological Activity and Mechanisms of Action of Terpenoids from Laurus nobilis L.

Abstract: Native to the Southern Mediterranean region, Laurus nobilis L. (Family Lauraceae) is an evergreen shrub or tree found in warm climate regions with high rainfall. The leaves and essential oil of this plant have been widely used as condiments, spices, and flavoring agents in the culinary and food industries. The whole plant is also used for the traditional treatment of various diseases, including cough, asthma, hemorrhoids, rheumatic pain, diarrhea, intestinal, and cardiac diseases. Previous phytochemical investigation of this plant demonstrated the presence of a variety of secondary metabolites, especially terpenoids. The present study aims to critically analyze comprehensive literature on the pharmacological activity and mechanisms of action of terpenoids from Laurus nobilis L. The available information on the pharmacological activity of terpenoids from L. nobilis L. was obtained from textbooks, theses, as well as published articles through a variety of libraries and electronic databases. The present study demonstrated that L. nobilis is rich in terpenoids, with more than 200 entities identified in reported studies. Terpenoids from L. nobilis have shown a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antifungal, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, anticonvulsant, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The mechanisms of action of most of these terpenoids included the imbalance of the ionic permeability of the cell membrane (anti- inflammatory and antimicrobial activities), modulation of the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) nergic neurotransmission (anticonvulsant activity), and the inhibition of inflammatory responses, prevention of metastasis, and induction of apoptosis (cytotoxic effect), among others. Referring to in vitro studies, terpenoids of L. nobilis L. have shown a variety of biological activities. However, more cytotoxic and in vivo studies and detailed mechanisms of action of the bioactive terpenoids are recommended.

The botanical study, phytochemical composition, and biological activities of Laurus nobilis L. leaves: A review

Laurus nobilis is native to the southern Mediterranean region. It is a small tree from the Lauraceae family. The leaves of L. nobilis are the most exploited part of the plant due not only to the high produced quantity but to the large benefits and extensive use in different fields including culinary, cosmetic, therapeutic, and pharmacologic. The various beneficial health properties attributed to bay leaves are related to the presence of various bioactive compounds. Chemically, they contain numerous essential elements, some vitamins, and many secondary metabolites such as essential oils (cineole, linalool, and eugenol), phenolic compounds, particularly phenolic acids (ferulic, protocatechuic, and caffeic acids, etc.) and flavonoids (such as catechin, kaempferol, apigenin, quercetin, and their derivatives), and alkaloids (noraporphins and aporphins). Laurel leaves are not only used to flavor dishes, but present several beneficial properties that justified their traditional use against numerous illnesses, particularly for rheumatism, indigestion, and diarrhea. Bay leaves are an essential component of several industrial applications including agrifoods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Due to the presence of cited chemical constituents in bay leaves, various biological and pharmacological properties have been reported such as antioxidant, antibacterial, fungicidal, antiviral, insecticidal, wound healing, antimutagen, anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulatory activities. This review provides an overview of L. nobilis leaves, beginning with botanical aspects, including its preparation and composition, followed by a discussion about the most abundant bioactive compounds, and finally the traditional uses and therapeutic effects.

13-year population survey of the critically endangered European eel in the southern Mediterranean region (Algeria).

A 13-year biomonitoring survey was carried out on the European eel, Anguilla anguilla for the first time in North Africa (Algeria) where there is a serious lack of information on the species. The study targeted specimens populating the only four sites where the species is both potentially present and legally exploited (Lake Oubeira, Lake Tonga, Mellah lagoon and Mafragh estuary). A total of 1370 individuals were sampled ranging from 17 to 113 cm in length, 19 to 2642 g in weight and 0.7 months to 6.6 years old, age being estimated from otolith growth marks. Otolith interpretation and age estimation were generally unambiguous at all four sites. According to the EELREP silvering index, the highest proportion of silver females was captured in fresh water (46% in Lake Oubeira and 25% in Lake Tonga), whereas a third were present in brackish water (Mafragh and Mellah). The sex ratio was in favour of females, and silver males were found to mature early (mean length 40 ± 1 cm, mean weight 123 ± 28 g and mean age 2 ± 0.6 years). Growth differed at the four sites, and the growth rate was highest in Lake Oubeira and asymptotic length highest in Mellah lagoon. Metamorphosis from the yellow resident stage to the silver migrating stage occurred very early in the eels' continental life (between 3 and 4 years of age). Results highlight rapid growth in these Algerian sites, and earlier silvering than in eels living in European waters, suggesting different life-history traits of A. anguilla in North African waters, influenced by environmental conditions.

Forage mixture productivity and silage quality from a grass/legume intercrop in a semiarid Mediterranean environment

AbstractIn semiarid environments of the Mediterranean region, intercropping is a sustainable agricultural system of long standing. In this area, the pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the most commonly grown legume crops. Little information is available on the quality of silages to be obtained from forage mixtures of pea intercropped with cereals or annual grasses. In this study, two experiments were conducted over the course of two growing seasons in Sicily (Italy) with the aim to determine the biomass production of forage crop mixtures and assess, only in the second experiment, the silage quality of grass and legumes. Four cereals and one annual grass species were grown in pure stand and in mixture with pea, and their main agronomic traits were determined. The land equivalent ratio (LER), competitive ratio, and aggressivity index were also calculated. A number of parameters were considered to assess the quality of silage obtained from fermented biomasses derived from pea–ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. var. Westerwoldicum) intercropping. In the first experiment, the best performance between the intercrops was recorded for the pea–wheat mixture. The total LER calculated for fodder yields was always greater than 1, indicating crop yield advantages ranging from 2.0% to 47.0%. In the second experiment, the pea–ryegrass mixture appeared to respond well, depending on plant arrangement and seeding ratio factors: the ratios 50:50 and 100:50 showed the greatest crop yield advantages, of 12.0% and 11.0%, respectively. All silages revealed a very good suitability of a pea–ryegrass intercropping system with high‐quality silage production in the Southern Mediterranean region.

Microhabitat use by Mediterranean ribbed newts: newts in highly fluctuating conditions?

ABSTRACT Ribbed newts (genus Pleurodeles) are among the few species of amphibians present in open, dry and warm southern Mediterranean habitats. However, the factors that determine the presence of these species in such xeric environments remain poorly understood. We characterised the microhabitat niches of the three species of the genus (P. nebulosus, P. poireti and P. waltl). We used temperature–humidity probes and described the variation in the vegetative composition of their habitats. We found that the three species of this genus use sparsely vegetated habitats, exposed to high seasonal temperatures (above 35°C) and to broad intra-annual fluctuations in air temperature and humidity. The capacity of the three species to occupy microclimatically fluctuating environments explains why these urodeles are broadly distributed in disturbed landscapes in southern Mediterranean regions, where no other species of urodeles occur. Ribbed newts are highly adaptable to changing environments, which is advantageous under highly unstable Mediterranean hydrological regimes.

Extremely rare case of melanistic greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus documented for the first time in Europe in Lake Kerkini National Park, Northern Greece

The last decade a couple of observations of melanistic greater flamingos have been reported across Southern Mediterranean region. In October 2014 a melanistic greater flamingo was observed and photographed for the first time in Europe in Lake Kerkini National Park in Northern Greece. All the decade’s observations could concern the same individual if we considered that melanism is an extremely rare genetic mutation and flamingos are moving across different lakes around the Mediterranean region.

The making of rivals and strange bedfellows: Patterns of Turkish and Russian security assistance in the Syrian and Libyan civil wars

ABSTRACT In the Libyan and Syrian civil wars, Russia and Turkey emerged as two principal players providing security assistance to opposing warring parties. While interventions on the part of the two foreign powers have introduced new dynamics into intractable and volatile armed conflicts, the underlying intention was to inject extraneous goals into ongoing conflicts and project power in the southern Mediterranean region. This article investigates security assistance theoretically and empirically. Theoretically, we propose a typology that distinguishes between formal, informal and semi-formal processes of wartime security assistance across the state-non-state dimension. Empirically, drawing on rare access to state officials, former and active rebels, as well as mercenary actors in Syria and Libya, we give a unique description of the patterns of security assistance provided by Russia and Turkey to state and non-state armed actors. We examine the ways in which the two foreign powers have created a nexus between the two conflicts by capitalizing on pre-existing security assistance frameworks in Syria to recruit and deploy fighters to Libya. Although security assistance has emerged as a competition site between Russia and Turkey, we demonstrate how mutual recognition of security interests has created margins for negotiation and agreement-reaching in Syria and Libya.

Climate Change in the Mediterranean Basin (Part II): A Review of Challenges and Uncertainties in Climate Change Modeling and Impact Analyses

The Mediterranean basin is particularly prone to climate change and vulnerable to its impacts. One of the most relevant consequences of climate change, especially for the southern Mediterranean regions, is certainly water scarcity as result of a reduction of surface runoff and groundwater levels. Despite the progress achieved in recent years in the field of climate change and its impact on water resources, results and outcomes should be treated with due caution since any future climate projection and derived implications are inevitably affected by a certain degree of uncertainty arising from each different stage of the entire modeling chain. This work offers a comprehensive overview of recent works on climate change in the Mediterranean basin, mainly focusing on the last ten years of research. Past and future trends on different components of the hydrological balance are discussed in a companion paper (Noto et al. 2022), while the present paper focuses on the problem of water availability and water scarcity. In addition, the work aims to discuss the most relevant sources of uncertainty related to climate change with the aim to gain awareness of climate change impact studies interpretation and reliability.

Floristic Composition, Diversity, Palatability, and Forage Availability of Forest Rangelands in the Southern Mediterranean Region of Northern Morocco

Forest rangelands are an important component of extensive goat production in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this study was to survey the floristic composition, lifespan, life forms, phytogeographic relationships, palatability degree, and forage availability of forest rangelands in Northern Morocco. To achieve this goal, a plant species inventory was carried out, and a digital herbarium was constructed. Forage availability was estimated using the quadrat method. According to the results, 358 taxa were recorded with 228 genera and 66 families. The flora is mainly dominated by Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Lamiaceae families. Six principal life forms of plants were recognized with the predominance of therophytes (48.3%). The Mediterranean floristic category was the most dominant in the flora (73.7%) with 264 species. The palatability degree was studied for 95 taxa, known by herders. The palatable plant group was highly represented with 32 species. Of these identified taxa, 93% were evaluated as potential sources of forage for grazing animals. The forage availability depended considerably on the season and the existing plant species (p < 0.01). The spring recorded the higher value with 3143 kg DM/ha. In conclusion, forest rangelands have a high biodiversity, which they need for rigorous protection to preserve their floristic composition and diversity.

MICROBIOLOGICAL SAFETY AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITY PARAMETERS OF GOAT AND SHEEP CHEESE FROM HERZEGOVINA

Cheese is a semi-solid or solid milk product, obtained by curdling milk and separating the curds from the whey. The examination included 46 samples of cheese produced on agriculture farms and small mini-dairies in the territory of Herzegovina, with the emphasis that most of the samples originate from the southern sub-Mediterranean and Mediterranean regions of Herzegovina. The goal of the study was to determine the microbiological safety and physicochemical quality parameters of cheeses that are marketed as fresh goat cheese, semi-solid goat cheese, and sheep and goat bellows cheese. Of the total number of analyzed samples, 49.22% did not meet the requirements of the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of the quality, where 36.22% did not meet the physicochemical quality, and 13% did not meet the microbiological quality due to an increased number of β glucuronidase positive Escherichia coli. The presence of β glucuronidase positive Escherichia coli in cheese samples indicates insufficient hygiene during the technological process of cheese production itself. Pathogenic microorganisms Salmonella spp and Listeria monocytogenes were not isolated, and the number of coagulase-positive staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus was within the permitted limits. This study indicates that it is necessary to standardize the physicochemical parameters in the production of cheese, as well as the use of exclusively autochthonous raw materials in the production of individual small producers and in mini-dairies engaged in this production, as is the case with the industrial production of these products in that area.

Development of a New Residential Energy Management Approach for Retrofit and Transition, Based on Hybrid Energy Sources

The building sector contributes to a significant part of growing global energy demand. Improving the energy efficiency of the existing building stock is a crucial strategy. Adopting the best energy retrofit strategy in a specific building is a hard task due to the multitude of possible combinations of retrofit measures and the management of different renewable energy sources in the building. However, significant efforts must be made to combine envelope retrofit with renewable energy to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings and minimize the energy payback period and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It also helps to achieve a successful transition to zero fossil fuel energy for houses and an existing housing stock free of greenhouse gas emissions. This paper is based on a systematic approach, which was applied to an Algerian case study “high-rise building/housing units” that represented southern Mediterranean countries. The percentage of energy consumption was identified; moreover, the performance of on-site hybrid exploitation of renewable energy systems such as photovoltaic cells, thermodynamic panels and small wind turbines was proven. Several actors have collaborated and a range of software types have been used (3D modelling, meteorological regeneration data, energy simulation of buildings, estimation of renewable energy production and statistical analysis). As a result, the building case study has become more efficient than before, whereas the payback time was 10 years. The economic and environmental analysis highlighted that it is possible to save energy demand by up to 51–75% for heating and up to 5–32% for cooling; electricity and hot water consumption was covered at 98% and 80%, respectively, whereas associated gas emissions are reduced by up to 252 tons per building, a reduction of 91%. The model of the platform designed is multi-disciplinary, facilitating collaboration with the various stakeholders to identify directions for successful interventions in pre-established cities. It is a solid framework for future research aimed at standardizing the approach to energy retrofitting and transitioning in existing buildings and is suitable for all types of residential buildings of the southern Mediterranean region such as Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.

A novel method for the assessment of the variations in surface air temperature seasonality of southern Mediterranean region: climatological implications for the Italian Peninsula for the period 1980–2014

A novel method for the assessment of the variations in surface air temperature seasonality of southern Mediterranean region: climatological implications for the Italian Peninsula for the period 1980–2014

Some Traits of Meiofauna in the Surf Region of the Southern Mediterranean Sea Coast

During the winter and summer of 2019, eight study sites in eastern Libya were used to establish meiofauna diversity in the Southern Mediterranean Sea's near-shore sandy bottom surf region. The physicochemical characteristics of surface water at the study sites were mostly similar. Seventeen taxa of floatable meiofauna (extracted from sediment samples by floatation) were identified, sixteen during winter and ten during summer: By number of individuals per taxon, Nematoda and Foraminifera were the most abundant taxa. The other available taxa were Rhabdocoela, Xanacoelomorpha, Gastrotrichs, Polychaeta, Kinorhyncha, and Urodasys. Four non-floatable meiofauna taxa were encountered (Foraminifera, Mussel, Gastropod, and Ostracoda). This low diversity of floatable and non-floatable meiofauna was possibly due to the strong wave action prevailing in the region and the adjacent deleterious anthropogenic activities. Meiofaunal diversity was higher in winter than in summer, possibly due to the higher dissolved phosphorus concentration during this season. The causes of the between-site differences in meiofaunal diversity are unclear, but differences in adjacent coastal anthropogenic activities might had more impact than differences in the prevailing physicochemical traits of the interstitial habitat. New practical techniques for collecting and identifying the smaller meiofauna are needed.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Artichoke or Cynara Scolymus L. as Promising Potential Therapeutic in Anemia

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a perennial plant native to the southern Mediterranean region of North Africa. Today, artichokes are widely grown around the world and buds of artichokes are used as a vegetable all over the world. This plant is widely used in the traditional medicine. Artichoke has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and countless medicinal properties. Artichoke inhabits reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals due to phenolic acids and flavonoid compounds and also suppresses the activation pathway of NF-κB, thereby could reduce oxidative stresses, inflammatory factors, and prevent suppressing red blood cells probably. It has also been suggested for traditional medicine including blood purification, so it can be used for anemia treatment.