Tunisian Regions Research Articles

Public Transport Demand Elasticities in Developing Agglomerations: The Case of Tunisian Regions

Abstract This paper examined the characteristics of public transport demand in some major Tunisian cities. It followed the research trend which calculated the public transport demand elasticities. The adopted procedure in this study consists in estimating a log linear dynamic panel model relating per capita bus patronage to bus fares, users’ income, and service quality. Two variants of the basic model were estimated for the most important Tunisian agglomerations for the period 2003-2020. In the first variant, this paper considered the same fare elasticity value for the different regions, whereas in the second it’s proceeded to the calculation of specific fare elasticity values for each region. The estimation results show interesting and different elasticities compared to those revealed by earlier studies for occidental agglomerations. This result can be explained by specifics users’ characteristics and networks’ configuration. Although these results may sometimes contradict the theoretical suggestions, they still highlight the specificities of the public transport demand in Tunisia and its users’ characteristics. The demand for public transport in large Tunisian agglomerations is not very sensitive to fares changes. Second, income does not have the same effect as that advocated by economic theories. Indeed, we have found a positive impact of income on demand for public transport. Finally, the quality of service has the most important effect on demand. Changes in travel habits and cultures, improvements in the quality of services and their differentiation can be more effective for public transport than fares changes.

Mineral and biochemical analysis, polyphenol content and antioxidant potential of Moringa oleifera leaves collected from two different Tunisian regions

Mineral and biochemical analysis, polyphenol content and antioxidant potential of Moringa oleifera leaves collected from two different Tunisian regions

Effect of regional disparities and solvent variations on the phenolic composition, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial efficacy of Cupressus sempervirens extracts

ABSTRACT The ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, and water extracts of cypress from three Tunisian regions (Bizerte, Ben Arous, and Nabeul) were reported for their phenolic content, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. Cypress extract had an important antiradical and antibacterial potential which was strongly related to the organoleptic quality of the extract which appeared strongly region dependent. The highest contents of polyphenols were obtained in the methanol extract at the region of Bizerte (315.75 mg GAE/g DW). Cupressuflavone was the major compound with high proportions in methanol extract of Bizerte (68%). Amentoflavone also constituted an important flavonoid compound presented in higher proportion in the ethyl acetate extract of Ben Arous (21.2%). For Gram-positive bacteria strains, Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to the ethanol extract of Nabeul with IZ = 40 mm. This study suggests cypress as potential natural source of antioxidants and antibacterial agents.

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of geranium (pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.) essential oil as affected by the growing biotope

ABSTRACT This study investigated the variability of antioxidant and antibacterial activities of essential oil (EO) from geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) aerial parts, collected from four Tunisian regions. The highest EO yield was obtained in Korba, followed by Beja, Tozeur and Sfax. In all regions, geranium EO was rich in oxygenated monoterpenes mainly due to the predominance of citronellol and geraniol. Antioxidant potential of geranium EO was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, iron reducing power and β-carotene bleaching assays. Independently of region, geranium EO showed a weak antioxidant potential as compared to the positive control BHT. However, geranium EO was endowed with important antibacterial properties. In fact, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most sensitive strains than Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus hirae. These findings suggested that geranium EO could be used as new and rich potential sources of many future multipurpose products for food preservation, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications.

Accuracy of the Personal Economic Distress Index Among Arabic Unemployed.

Objectives: Studies about The Index of Personal Economic Distress (IPED) in Arab countries since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been alarming. This study aimed to explore the reliability, factor structure, and criterion validity of the Arabic IPED in a sample of unemployed Tunisians during the past 6months. Methods: The Arabic version of the IPED and the validated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered to a total of 2011 unemployed people originating from all Tunisian regions. Principal component analysis (PCA) with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to establish the spontaneous distribution of the 8 items and possible factors of the IPED. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to assess the ability of the IPED to distinguish between unemployed individuals with no economic distress and those in distress. The correlation between the IPED and the HADS were explored. Results: The reliability of the Arabic version of the IPED was adequate. The PCA suggested two main components of the Arabic version of the IPED: the first component including five items focused on financial responsibilities towards state structures and the second dimension containing three items focused on well-being. A statistically significant association (p = 0.01; r = 0.05) was found between the well-being dimension of the IPED and the Anxiety subscale of HADS. Conclusion: This validated version of the IPED is an important tool to study the impact of economic crises on the mental health of unemployed people, as demonstrated in the link found in this study between economic distress and anxiety.

First morphometric and molecular characterization of Fasciola spp. in Northwest Tunisia.

The aim of this study was to characterize the Tunisian Fasciola spp. flukes by morphometric and molecular analyses. Flukes were collected from livers of sheep slaughtered in Sejnane slaughterhouses (Bizerte gouvernorate, Northwest Tunisia) between January and March 2021.Five morphometric parameters were determined for all the liver flukes, as follows: (i) total body length (BL), (ii) distance between ventral sucker and the tail (VS-T), (iii) distance between oral sucker and ventral sucker (OS-VS), (iv) abdomen diameter (AD), (v) tail diameter (TD) and the body length to width ratio (BL/BW). Molecular identification of the fluke specimens was carried out by polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of a 680 bp sequence of the internal transcribes spacer 1 (ITS1) gene and by amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of a 500 bp sequence of the ITS2 gene. Morphometric measurements showed that the mean of the total body length of the adult flukes was 21.1 ± 2.7 mm with minimum and maximum lengths of 13 and 31 mm, respectively. The PCR-RFLP analysis revealed a single profile consisting of three bands of approximately 370, 100, and 60 bp. Fasciola sequences described in the present study (GenBank numbers: OQ457027 and OQ457028) showed 99.58-100% identity to Fasciola hepatica. In conclusion, the results of this study show that molecular and phylogenetic analyses confirm the presence of a single species of F. hepatica in the Sejnane region Northwest of Tunisia. However, further studies are needed to identify the occurrence of Fasciola species in other Tunisian regions.

Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria from Tunisian Soils

Soil microorganisms play an important role in maintaining natural ecological balance through active participation in carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous cycles. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are of high importance in the rhizosphere, enhancing the solubilization of inorganic phosphorus complexes into soluble forms available for plant nutrition. The investigation of this species of bacteria is of major interest in agriculture, as they can be used as biofertilizers for crops. In the present study, 28 isolates of PSB were obtained after the phosphate enrichment of soil samples from five Tunisian regions. Five PSB species were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing including Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. putida, and P. taiwanensis, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Pantoea agglomerans. Solid and liquid Pikovskaya's (PVK) and National Botanical Research Institute's (NBRIP) media containing insoluble tricalcium phosphate were used for the evaluation of the phosphate solubilization ability of the bacterial isolates by two methods: visual evaluation of the solubilization zone around colonies (halo) and determination of solubilized phosphates in liquid medium by the colorimetric method of the vanado-molybdate yellow. Based on the results of the halo method, the isolate of each species that showed the higher phosphate solubilization index was selected for evaluation of phosphate solubilization by the colorimetric method. In the liquid media, the bacterial isolates showed phosphate solubilization ranging from 535.70 to 618.57 µg mL-1 in the NBRIP medium, and 374.20 to 544.28 µg mL-1 in the PVK medium, with the highest values produced by P. fluorescens. The best phosphate solubilization ability and higher reduction in broth pH, which indicates higher organic acid production, were achieved in NBRIP broth for most of the PSB. Strong correlations were observed between the average capability of PSB to solubilize phosphates and both the pH and total phosphorous content in the soil. The production of the hormone indole acetic acid (IAA), which can promote plant growth, was observed for all five PSB species. Among them, P. fluorescens obtained from the forest soil of northern Tunisia showed the highest production of IAA (50.4 ± 0.9 µg mL-1).

Combining different biomarkers to distinguish Chemlali virgin olive oils from different geographical areas of Tunisia.

Despite their high potential, Tunisian virgin olive oils (VOOs) are mainly exported in bulk or blended with VOOs of other origin, hindering their international market placement. To face this situation, their valorization is needed by highlighting their unique features and by developing tools to guarantee their geographical authenticity. Compositional features of Chemlali VOOs produced in three Tunisian regions were assessed to identify suitable authenticity markers. Quality indices ensured the quality of the VOOs studied. Volatile compounds, total phenols, fatty acid (FA) and chlorophylls are significantly influenced by the region of origin, which was justified by the differences found in soil and climatic conditions of the three geographical regions. To explore the capabilities of these markers for the geographical authentication of Tunisian Chemlali VOOs, classification models based on partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were developed by grouping the minimum number of variables allowing the highest discrimination power, minimizing in this way the analytical procedure. The PLS-DA authentication model based on combining volatile compounds with FA or with total phenols achieved a correct classification of 95.7% of the VOOs according to their origin, as assessed by 10%-out cross-validation. Sidi Bouzid Chemlali VOOs achieved 100% of correct classification, while the misclassification between Sfax and Enfidha ones did not exceed 10%. These results allowed to establish the most promising and affordable combination of markers for the geographical authentication of Tunisian Chemlali VOOs from distinct production regions and provide the basis to further develop authentication models based on wider datasets. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Aphrophoridae as Potential Vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in Tunisia.

The present study is an update on the situation of potential vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in Tunisia. Investigations in nine Tunisian regions (Nabeul, Bizerte, Béja, Jendouba, Zaghouan, Kairouan, Ben Arous, Tunis and Manouba) from 2018 to 2021 allowed for the observation of 3758 Aphrophoridae among a total of 9702 Auchenorrhyncha individuals collected by sweep net. Four Aphrophoridae species were identified with Philaenus tesselatus as most abundant (62%), followed by Neophilaenus campestris (28%), Neophilaenus lineatus (5%) and Philaenus maghresignus (5%). Aphrophoridae individuals were found to be particularly abundant in both forests of Nabeul and Jendouba, secondarily in olive groves and dry grassland. Furthermore, their distribution on weed hosts was followed in these two regions where nymphs and adults are widely distributed. P. tesselatus appears to be the most abundant species as determined either by conventional sweep netting for adults or by plant sampling on Sonchus, Smyrnium, Cirsium, Rumex, Polygonum and Picris for nymphs. Limited numbers of adults of P. maghresignus were detected by sweep netting, while nymphs of this species were found on Asphodelus microcarpus only. N. campestris was found in high numbers on plants belonging to the Poaceae family in forests, dry grassland and olive groves whereas N. lineatus occurred on herbs under or near olive trees and in dry grasslands.

Correlation between metabolites of lactic acid bacteria isolated from dairy traditional fermented Tunisian products and antifungal and antioxidant activities.

The objective of this study is to identify and investigate the antifungal and antioxidant potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from traditional fermented products. In this work, a collection of LAB was isolated from traditional fermented products collected in four Tunisian regions. After first screening using the overlay method, seven bacterial strains were retained due to their high antifungal effect. Four strains of Limosilactobacillus fermentum were identified, one strain of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, one strain of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and one strain of Enterococcus faecium. The antifungal and the antioxidant potential of these bacteria were then evaluated. Bacterial strains were effective against six fungal strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 25 to 100 mg/ml and minimum fungicidal concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 mg/ml. Cell-free supernatants of LAB were analysed by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS-qTOF-MS analysis. Results showed significant production of organic acids as well as several phenolic compounds. Correlation analysis confirmed that PLA and 1,2-dihydroxybenzene were positively correlated with antifungal potential. The results of the antioxidant activity highlighted an ABTS radical cation scavenging activity ranging from 49% to 57% and a DPPH trapping percentage ranging from 80% to 97%. Therefore, due to these characteristics, identified lactic acid bacteria strains have shown their effectiveness to perform as antifungal and antioxidant agents. Since microbial contamination is at the root of extensive losses in the food sector, the identified strains or their metabolites can potentially be used as additives to limit micro-organism spoilage in food products and increase their shelf life.

Preliminary study on the seasonal questing of Ixodes ricinus group ticks in Ain Draham forest (north-western Tunisia) with analyses of their phylogenetic diversity.

The present study aimed to investigate the activity dynamics of Ixodes ricinus group ticks in a forest located in north-western Tunisia (Aïn Draham, Jendouba District) and assess the variation of abiotic factors (temperature, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and relative humidity) during one year survey from September 2016 to August 2017 using the dragging sampling method. A total of 116 questing ticks was collected from the vegetation consisting of 47 adults (19 females and 28 males, sex ratio M:F=1.47), 45 nymphs and 24 larvae representing 40.5, 38.8 and 20.7% of the total collected specimens, respectively. Adult I. ricinus were collected during October-May, nymphs during May-August and larvae during July-September. There were statistically significant correlations between adult tick numbers and mean daily relative humidity (Pearson r=0.77; p=0.003) and mean daily temperature (r=-0.74; p=0.006). The comparison of 16S rDNA sequences from 20 adult ticks of approximately 444bp length showed variability among 11 sequences. There was a low genetic variability (<1%) among the I. ricinus isolates collected from the forest. The amplicons showed >99% identity with I. ricinus and Ixodes inopinatus sequences from different countries and published in GenBank. These results should be complemented by further surveys in other Tunisian regions to better understand the influence of environmental factors on the biology of I. ricinus and the occurrence of sympatric I. inopinatus ticks. Different molecular markers should be used for better understanding of their taxonomic status.

Laticifer Identification, Rubber Characterization, Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Pergularia tomentosa Latex Extract.

Pergularia tomentosa is a perennial twining herb widely spread out arid and semiarid Tunisian regions. It is searched for its richness in enzymes, secondary metabolites, antifungal activity, and milk-clotting activity. Traditional use implies the fresh latex in wounding heals. The present study was aimed at identifying laticifer distribution in Pergularia tomentosa stems, leaves, and petioles. In the present study, the identification of latex extract's components and its valorisation by estimation of phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity are conducted. Anatomical structures proved the presence of laticifers in the aerial parts of Pergularia tomentosa. They are particularly observed along the pith and cortical parenchyma in stem, in leaf mesophyll, and in petiole phloem. Identified laticifers were characterized as nonarticulated. FTIR spectroscopy proves the presence of several functional groups in the latex and mainly the cis-1-4-isoprene monomer. Results suggested that Pergularia tomentosa latex contributes significantly as a source of phenol content (62.3 mg Eq GAE/g) and flavonoids (24.8 mg Eq QE/g). Scavenging free radicals of DPPH exhibited IC50 value of 12 μg/ml. In conclusion, latex extracted from Pergularia tomentosa can be implied in industry as a natural rubber. It can be used, also, in medicine as a therapeutic agent.

The impact of place attachment and ecological behavior on the consumer resistance toward change

Place attachment has been considered in many disciplines such as leisure sciences or environmental psychology and through many approaches. However, little has been done on the relationship between the consumer and the place of service. In this context and based on recent findings in human attachment literature and especially place attachment theory, this research offers a conceptual framework explaining the process by which consumer resistance emerges from emotional and social bonds (objective vs subjective, internal, and external connections). This study examines how Place Attachment leads individuals to resist consumption in touristic places that could introduce changes in places in which they are born, live or act. This research aims to clarify the concept of place attachment by identifying its main dimensions and providing a better understanding of the concept of resistance toward change. We argue that attachment-resistance links have received little interest in the marketing literature. Empirically, qualitative research was carried out using in-depth interviews and ethnography, followed by a quantitative study conducted in two Tunisian regions namely Kelibia (North East) and El Djerid (South West) to highlight the behavior of consumers identified as “place attached” acting save nature and place environment. Our results show that the three sub-dimensions of place attachment-place dependence, place identity, and place affect - are significantly associated with ecological behavior. So attachment to places is an important antecedent of pro-environmental behaviors and attitudes. Our findings offer some insights for both academicians and practitioners operating in the field of tourism projects to better understand the behavior of local consumers and visitors to these places.

Household Vulnerability and Resilience in Tunisia: Evidence Using Fuzzy Sets and Multidimensional Approach

This paper aims to analyse the vulnerability to multidimensional poverty in Tunisia using a dual cut-off identification method and the fuzzy sets approach to estimate the degree of resilience for each household identified vulnerable. The results obtained allowed us to understand the sources of vulnerability in the different Tunisian regions. There is clear evidence that the number of vulnerable households grows as the degree of vulnerability increases and the size of vulnerable groups depends on the source of deprivation. Individuals with a high degree of membership are in a state of extreme vulnerability, and their abilities to cope with shock effects are low; they are exposed to the risk of experiencing poverty in the future. Preventive policies must consider their situations in order to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions. JEL Classification: C1, D6, I3

Target site mutations underlying insecticide resistance in Tunisian populations of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on peach orchards and potato crops.

The massive use of synthetic insecticides strongly affects the level of insecticide resistance in populations of Myzus persicae worldwide. The selection of target site insensitivity-mutations is particularly worrying in areas where agro-industrial crops are vulnerable to the attacks of aphids that vector viruses, as in the case of Tunisia. Knowledge of the resistance mechanisms evolved locally in this aphid pest is a prerequisite to improving and retaining the sustainability of integrated pest management strategies. Target site mutations were surveyed in several populations of M.persicae collected from peach and potato crops between 2011 and 2017 in three Tunisian regions using real-time allele-specific PCR. The L1014F mutation (kdr locus) was found at a moderate frequency mostly in the heterozygous state and the homozygous resistant genotype was very uncommon. The M918T mutation (super-kdr locus) was present in a few heterozygous individuals, whereas the M918L mutation was detected for the first time in Tunisia and extreme North Africa. This latter mutation was shown to be widespread and well-established in Tunisia mainly as homozygous individuals, and was more abundant on peach than on potato crops. The S431F mutation (MACE) was found in a few heterozygous individuals. No individuals carrying the R81T mutation linked to neonicotinoid resistance were detected. This study points out a critical situation for the efficacy of pyrethroid insecticides to control M.persicae populations in Tunisia. It also confirms the rapid spread of the M918L mutation which has been detected in many different areas of the Mediterranean basin. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Essential oil composition and biological activities of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Miller) needles collected from different Tunisian regions

ABSTRACT The aim of this research was to investigate the variation regarding the chemical composition and biological activities of needles essential oils (EOs) of P. halepensis. Chemical profiles demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) variability among the different EOs. The main identified compounds were caryophyllene (48.77 ± 2.26), phenyl isovalerate (22.22 ± 2.26), β-myrcene (15.55 ± 5.65) and α-pinene (14.52 ± 2.26). Further, it was shown that EO from Tabouba (Tab) displayed the highest DPPH scavenging (IC50 = 73.03 mg/mL), anti-inflammatory (IC50 = 23.29 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase inhibition activities (IC50 = 254.45 µg/mL). While Elmahres (Elm) exhibited the most potent ABTS radical’s inhibition (IC50 = 197.87 mg/mL). For the cytotoxic capacities, Kettana (Ket) was the most efficient against breast cancer MCF-7 cell line with IC50 value better than doxorubicin used as positive control. Obtained results suggest that EO of P. halepensis could be used as a source of bioactive compounds.

Vulnerabilite des moyens d'existence des menages ruraux au changement climatique: analyse comparative des territoires montagneux et littoraux des zones arides tunisiennes

This paper presents a livelihood vulnerability assessment and compares the levels of exposure, sensitivity and adaptation to climate change of the local populations in mountains area and coastal plains in Tunisian arid regions. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change vulnerability index (LVI-IPCC) has been adapted and applied to assess this livelihood vulnerability, based on socio-economic surveys and semi-structured interviews with the local populations. Findings show that households in coastal plains are more vulnerable in terms of socio demographic profile, food security, social networks, access to water and climate variability. This territory is much more exposed to climate change, despite being slightly less sensitive. On the other hand, households in mountainous territory are more vulnerable in terms of livelihood strategies, land tenure and health, despite their adaptation capacity, which reduces their vulnerability to climate change. Based on this vulnerability assessment, this work suggests specific adaptation strategies and measures for livelihoods sustainability in each territory.

Analyzing the impact of Saharan sand and dust storms based on HYSPLIT algorithm in Tunisian regions

This study deals with the effects of the Saharan dust events on air quality in Tunisian cities. An algorithm based on the measurement of PM10 concentrations HYSPLIT is used for the analysis of these effects. The method involves satellite observations, back trajectories, and dust maps for validation. During the studied period, the daily PM10 trend shows prevalent PM10 packs predominately during the cold season. In the course of Saharan sand and dust storms, the PM10 time evolution reveals an increasing concentration with long residence period. Many comparisons at local and regional scale have been made in this study. A first local comparison in Gabes station shows a difference of development of PM10 concentration between a dust day and a non-dust day. A second local comparison on a dust day between Gabes and Sousse stations displays synchronization between the considered sites with large detected daily PM10 concentration maximum levels. On the other hand, a comparison between results of this study and those found in Abu Dhabi shows a comparable value during the winter season. The output of the algorithm recorded the highest PM10 concentration in Gabes station in March, which is in good agreement with the experimental results.

Phytochemicals, Antioxidant Attributes and Larvicidal Activity of Mercurialis annua L. (Euphorbiaceae) Leaf Extracts against Tribolium confusum (Du Val) Larvae (Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae).

Simple SummaryMercurialis annua L. is a Euphorbiacea widespread in the Euro-Mediterranean region. This species is known for its toxicity and is used in traditional pharmacopoeia. However, the chemical composition of the aerial parts of this taxon and their larvicidal impact remain to be explored. However, the literature reports only a few studies on the relationship between the polyphenolic profile of the different extracts of Mercurialis annua L. and the larvicidal activity; therefore, we tested different extracts of M. annua against the larvae of Tribolium confusum (Du Val) for better protection of stored foodstuffs attacked by this pest. On the other hand, green chemistry as a distinct discipline has developed in recent years, which allowed us to identify different active compounds by LC-MS, and study the relationship between larvicidal activity and the chemical composition of extracts from male and female leaves of Mercurialis annua L.This study reports the link between larvicidal activity and the phytochemical composition of male and female leaf extracts of Mercurialis annua L. (M. annua) from four Tunisian regions: Bizerte, Jandouba, Nabeul and Beja. Their antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assays. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using liquid chromatography coupled with a UV detector and mass spectrometry (LC-UV-ESI/MS). Higher antioxidant activity (AOA) was found in the leaves of male plant extracts than of female ones. The leaves of male and female plant extracts from Bizerte exhibited the highest AOA: 22.04 and 22.78 mg Trolox equivalent/g dry matter (mg TE/g DM), respectively. For both sexes, plant extracts from Beja had the lowest AOA with 19.71 and 19.67 mg TE/g DM for male and female plants, respectively. Some phenolic compounds such as narcissin, gallocatechin, rutin, epigallocatechin and epicatechin were identified and quantified using LC-MS, which highlighted the abundance of narcissin and rutin in the male leaves of M. annua. We noted that the interaction between the sex of plants and the provenance had a significant effect on TFC (F = 6.63; p = 0.004) and AOA (F = 6.53; p = 0.004) assays, but there was no interaction between sex and origins for TPC (F = 1.76; p = 0.19). The larvicidal activity of aqueous leaf extracts of M. annua against Tribolium confusum (Du Val) (T. confusum), an insect pest of flour and cereal seeds, showed that the mortality could reach 100% after 48 h of exposure in the Bizerte region. The LC50 values for the leaf extract were low in Bizerte, with 0.003 and 0.009 g/mL for male and female plants, respectively, succeeded by Jandouba, which displayed 0.006 and 0.024 g/mL for male and female plants, respectively. Nabeul showed 0.025 g/mL for male plants and 0.046 g/mL for female plants and Beja showed 0.037 and 0.072 g/mL for male and female plants, respectively. This is the first time that a study has revealed a negative correlation between the antioxidant activity and the larvicidal activity of the leaf extracts of M. annua with the following correlation coefficients of Perason: r = −0.975 and r = −0.760 for male and female plants, respectively.

Chemical diversity and biological activities of essential oils from native populations of Clinopodium menthifolium subsp. ascendens (Jord.) Govaerts.

This study is focused on the analysis of regional variation of the chemical compositions of three Clinopodium menthifolium subsp. ascendens (Jord.) Govaerts Tunisian accession, as well as their inhibition toward fungi and insect pests. The diversity of the chemical constituents and biological activities in front of the aforementioned variations was found to be remarkable. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 41, 42, and 30 compounds were identified respectively from Clinopodium menthifolium essential oils harvested from three Tunisian regions, namely Ain-Draham (ADEO), Babouch (BEO), and Tabarka (TEO). All analyzed oils were rich in oxygenated monoterpenes with different major constituents. Piperitenone (34.5%), cis-piperitone oxide (26.1%), and pulegone (47.9%) were the dominant compounds in the three volatile oils, respectively. The antifungal activity was investigated in vitro using six targeted fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Candida albicans, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes). The toxicity and repellency of essential oils were evaluated against the stored product pest Tribolium confusum. The tested samples were differently effective toward the target fungi and the pest depending on the variability of their chemical compositions. BEO exhibited the highest fungitoxic properties toward A. terreus mold, M. canis dermatophyte, and C. albicans yeast (the MIC values ranged from 40 to 400 μg mL-1). In addition, the data showed that TEO repelled T. confusum moderately (PR = 42.5% at 2 h after exposure). Concerning the contact treatment, both ADEO and BEO were proved to possess slightly toxic effects toward T. confusum pest (% of mortality 27.5-32.5% at 5% concentration). The results showed that the geographic origin greatly influenced the chemical composition and the associated bioactivities of Clinopodium menthifolium subsp. ascendens.