<p class="Abstract">The present study was carried out to explore the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and anti-oxidant effect as well as content of phenolic compounds of various extracts from Zygophyllum album. It was observed that dichloromethane and ethanol extracts were endowed with a powerful anti-acetylcholinesterase activity with IC₅₀ values of 40 and 58 µg/mL, respectively. These two extracts exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀=0.2 mg/mL), the highest total anti-oxidant capacity (185.2 and 222.4 mg vitamin E/mg extract, respectively), the highest reducing power effect, and the highest β-carotene bleaching capacity. The findings showed that the extents of anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of Z. album extracts as well as their anti-oxidant capacity are in accordance with their phenolic contents. Hence, Z. album leaves would be useful against Alzheimer's disease.</p><p> </p><p><strong>VIDEO CLIP</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/M03zi4Mzh6k">Determination of flavonoids content:</a>  2 min 50 sec</p><p> </p>

In the course of phytochemical and chemotaxonomical investigations of Cornulaca monacantha (Amaranthaceae), two new isoflavones, 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethoxy-6-(methoxymethyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (1) and 7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-6-(methoxymethyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (2) were isolated from the fresh aerial parts of C. monacantha among with three known compounds named vanillic acid (3), N-cisferuloyltyramine (4) and N-trans-feruloyltyramine (5). Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods including one-and two-dimensional NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. The isolated compounds exhibited interesting antioxidant activity determined by DPPH, ABTS and TAC tests.

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Natural polyphenols are widely reported to have a large range of pharmacological properties, especially antioxidant activities and free radical scavenging capacities. In this study, we investigate the effects of naringin, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin mixtures (NCQ) on renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic aged rats and its underlying mechanisms for ten consecutive weeks. The oxidative defense system in the kidneys of treated rats was found to be improved. Several biomarkers were investigated including the blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid. Moreover, antioxidant parameters were evaluated and we found that superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, Na+-K+-ATPase activities, the nitric oxide production, the protein carbonyl, the advanced oxidation protein products, lipid peroxidation, and reduced glutathione levels were all significantly balanced and close to control values. In addition, NCQ restored renal injuries and fibrosis as assessed by histological method and molecular biology investigation of the matrix metalloproteinase, the transforming growth factor-beta TGF-β, the tumor necrosis factor TNFα, and p53 expression. Our study proposes the NCQ combination as potential plant-derived bioactive compounds to prevent diabetic nephropathy.