This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and antiulcer activities of flavonoid‐rich fractions of Zingiber officinale extract. The fractions, obtained by solvents of increasing polarities, were subjected to 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The fraction which possessed the highest antioxidant activity was used to assess gastroprotective action against diclofenac sodium induced gastric ulcer in rats. Chromatographic profiling was carried out using LC‐ESI‐MS analysis. The butanol fraction (BF) showed the strongest antioxidant potential and the results of the in vivo study revealed that BF at 100 mg/kg protected against gastric lesions. At the same dose, BF prevented diclofenac sodium‐induced increase in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and depletion of catalase (CAT) activity as well as glutathione (GSH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) contents. LC‐ESI‐MS analysis revealed the presence of 12 phenolic compounds. BF exerted antiulcer action which could be linked to the presence of phenolic compounds. Practical applications Zingiber officinale has been widely consumed as a spice and used in folk medicine for treatment of gastric disorders. This is the first report evaluating the pharmacological effects of the butanol extract of ginger for the prevention of gastric ulcer. The results showed that the extract affords better gastroprotective activity against diclofenac sodium‐induced gastric ulcer in rats by reducing oxidative stress. Information provided in this study will be beneficial for developing applications of ginger in food biotechnology as functional and nutraceutical ingredient.

The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical and pharmacological identities of a Lepidium sativum L. (LS) flavonoid‐rich extract and its beneficial effects on metabolic, hormonal, and histological status. Chemical screening, as well as high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode‐array detection (HPLC‐DAD) identified high concentrations of the main flavonoid compounds in LS crude extract such as flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol), flavones (luteolin, apigenin), and especially flavanones (naringin, naringenin). Examinations of the biochemical and histopathological aspects showed the curative effects carried by LS flavonoid‐rich extracts on high‐fat diet‐fed Wistar rats. In this study, we propose that these molecules probably exerted the bioactivity observed in the treated group through improving insulin sensitivity, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and pancreas β cell integrity. Practical applications The LS seed is widely used in traditional medicine to treat hyperglycemia and inflammation. During the traditional mixture preparation, the thermal procedures could impair the bioactions of the most interesting group of LS phytoconstituants, flavonoids. In the present study, we propose an appropriate procedure to preserve those phytochemicals and suggest them as a substitute for the management of metabolic diseases. The dried LS extract showed an incredible set of effective flavonoids, which revealed hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti‐inflammatory, cytoprotective, and antidiabetic activities. Thus, LS flavonoids constitute a remarkable product to consider in pharmaceutical industry targeting diabetes and heart diseases. Due to their enormous antioxidant potential, the LS flavonoids could be also used in food engineering and cosmetic preparations. Their practical applications is however often limited by low solubility and stability in lipophilic media. Therefore, a modification of the flavonoid structure is possibly required.

The results of the study indicate that phytotherapy using Citrullus colocynthis alkaloids may correct metabolic and hormonal perturbations as well as adrenal medulla structure of rats maintained on HFD.

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