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  • Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, antifungal activity, and genotoxicity of essential oil and solvent extracts of tetraclinis articulata leaves from northern Morocco
    Publication . Benoutman, Amina; Erbiai, El Hadi; Ettakifi, Hajar; Legssyer, Mounir; Handaq, Nadia; Makrane, Hanane; Saidi, Rabah; Lamrani, Zouhaire; Pintado, Manuela; Pinto, Eugénia; Silva, Joaquim C. G. Esteves da; Maouni, Abdelfettah
    Tetraclinis articulata is a medicinal plant commonly known in Morocco as” Araar Tree “. Various parts of T. articulata are traditionally used for various therapeutic purposes. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate the antioxidant, antifungal, and genotoxicity of methanolic (TaLME), acetonic (TaLAE) extracts, and essential oil (TaLEO) from Tetraclinis articulata leaves growing in northern Morocco. This was carried out through chemical analysis, bioactive substance determination, and essential oil and extract testing. The bioactive substances determined by the spectrophotometric method showed a higher content of phenols and flavonoids in TaLME. The Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of phenolic compounds revealed protocatechuic acid as predominant in TaLME, followed by paraben acid and syringic acid, and in TaLAE, p-hydroxybenzoic was the principal compound, followed by protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of TaLEO (yield of 0.77 %) revealed the presence of 22 compounds (95.80 %) with main components (%) α-pinene (29.62), bornyl acetate (21.45), and camphor (16.80). Biological activities were evaluated: antioxidant efficiency using four different methods (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, ORAC), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) protection, genotoxicity test, and antifungal activity against five pathogenic fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton rubrum, and Microsporum canis). According to the results, the extracts and EO had significant antioxidant and antifungal activity against the dermatophytes. The genotoxicity test exhibited that the T. articulata extracts and EO were bereft of any mutagenic activity. Overall, this study demonstrates that Tetraclinis articulata plant essential oil and extracts can represent an intriguing potential source of natural compounds that can be helpful for future investigations.
    2024-03-30Journal article Open access Show more
  • War as an accession accelerator? Ukraine’s path towards the EU
    Publication . Mazur, Sylwia Katarzyna
    The European Union’s response to the war in Ukraine is perceived as swift and relatively coherent. The political willingness to support its attacked neighbour has also extended to Ukraine’s membership bid. Despite protracting war and worsening Ukraine’s position, there are no doubts over the state’s commitment to reforms. For now, it can be safely assumed that Ukraine will pursue its path towards membership. Can fighting war and pushing an arduous accession process be balanced by the political will of the EU Member States rooted in a wartime gesture of solidarity?
    2024-03-30Journal article Open access Show more