Bunium crassifolium Batt. is an extremely rare species growing in Algeria. Its leaf or aerial part is used for flavoring and garnishing food. The aim of the current study was to determine 37 bioactive phytochemicals and biological evaluation of the methanol and methanol:water (70:30) extracts of B. crassifolium for the first time. A total of 10 phenolic acids and 8 flavonoids have been identified in the extracts of the aerial parts by LC-MS/MS. Chlorogenic, gallic and ferulic acids were the most abundant phenolic acids detected, while rhoifolin, quercitrin and rutin were the most abundant flavonoids. In addition, 3 non-phenolic organic acids (fumaric acids, quinic and malic) were detected and among them quinic and malic acids were the most abundant. Antioxidant activity was evaluted by six methods and the extracts showed significant activity. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined and methanol:water (70:30) extract showed higher values which entails its greater antioxidant capacity. In addition, anticholinesterase (AChE and BChE) activity was evaluated for both extracts using Ellman method. Methanol extract showed a better anti-acetylcholinesterase activity than methanol:water (70:30) one. While, both extracts showed a weak anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity. Furthermore, the anti-tyrosinase activity was tested and the methanol:water (70:30) extract was promising and more potent. In conclusion, B. crassifolium could be used in food industries and pharmaceutical as a potential functional food ingredient.

Ethnobotanical investigation was carried out using questionnaires among majority of El Kala (Algeria) inhabitants. The investigation found that lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus L.) is widely used in traditional therapy, especially in gastrointestinal and dermatological problems.Bioactive phytochemicals were determined by LC-MS/MS, and 14, 13, and 12 compounds were identified in leaves, stems and seeds, respectively. Flavonoids and phenolic acids were the most abundant compounds. Moreover, total phenols (306.5 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (95.25 mg RE/g), and condensed tannins (170.75 mg CE/g) contents were determined in leaves. Also, essential oil composition was investigated using GC/MS and 27 aroma compounds were identified. Monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most abundant. Besides, antioxidant activity was performed by DPPH, β-carotene bleaching, and ferrous ions chelating tests; and leaves extracts were more effective (IC 50 of 2.75, 3.45, 13.5 µg/ml), than essential oils (IC 50 of 10.5, 70.5, 157.25 µg/ml), and standards (trolox, 4.75; BHT, 5.25 µg/ml), respectively.

Hypochaeris laevigata var. hipponensis (Asteraceae) is an endemic plant from Algeria. In the current study, we analyzed for the first time its chemical composition, especially phenolic constituents of dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), and n-butanol (BuOH) fractionsof the aerial parts of Hypochaeris laevigata var. hipponensis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The number of phenolic compounds detected in DCM, EA, and BuOH fractions were found to be 9, 20, and 15, respectively. More specifically, 12 phenolic acids were detected. Among them, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid were the most abundant ones. Meanwhile, only seven flavonoids were detected. Among them, rutin, apigetrin, and isoquercitrin were the major ones. We also determined the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and fraction EA showed the highest values, followed by BuOH, and DCM fractions. Furthermore, the antioxidant action was dictated by five methods and the tested plant fractions demonstrated a noteworthy antioxidant action.

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