The aim of the present study was to evaluate the phenolic contents in capsule and root methanolic extracts of Euphorbia retusa followed by identification of phenolic on capsule extracts through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) for the first time. Likewise, the antioxidant activity of both extracts was investigated by using Cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). The result implies that E. retusa capsules have the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents with 105.33±7.75 µg GAE.mg -1 extract 19.95±0.96 µg QEs.mg -1 extract; respectively and the highest activity in CUPRAC assay with epigallocatechin 3-O-Gallate was the major flavonoid. Thus, our findings indicate that E. restusa capsules may be valorized in industrial fields.

An FNR project entitled “Promotion of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) cultivation for the profit of arid and semi-arid regions’ women” is led by the CRSTRA. The investigations made during 2013 and 2014 in different arid and semi-arid regions of Algeria have permitted to install Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) cultivation in five principle sites: Ain Zaatout, Beni Souik, Branis, Djemorah and Maafa (Algeria). These mountainous oases are characterised especially by lack of water. After analysing the investigation results, saffron corms were distributed to women to be cultivated. The sowing was realised on different dates. The results obtained in the first year of saffron cultivation in mountainous oases of Algeria are promising. The flowering took place in the same year in four sites; it is the case of Ain Zaatout, Beni Souik, Djemorah and Maafa. However, the flowering took place in the second year in the site of Branis. The difference in saffron flowering occurrence can be attributed to the difference in altitude, the pedo-climatic difference as well as the difference in the date of sowing.