Phytochemical analysis,hypotensive effect and antioxidant properties of Myrtus communis L.growing in Algeria

Objective:To analyze Myrlus communis chemically and evaluate the hypotensive effects and antioxidant properties of methanol,chloroform,ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts from the leaves of this plant.Methods:Total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as the antioxidant potential of methanol,chloroform,ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts have been investigated by using different in vitro methods.The hypotensive effects of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were evaluated in anaesthetized rats by using the method of invasive blood pressure recording.Moreover,ethyl acetate extract was subjected to analysis by different chromatographic methods in order to identify new compounds.Results:Chemical analysis of ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of myrecitin-3-O-α-rhamnoside.Ethyl acetate extract was found to have the highest total phenolic and total flavonoid contents with the values of 435.37 ma gallic acid equivalents/g dried weight and 130.75 mg quercetin equivalent/g dried weight,respectively.Ethyl acetate extract also exhibited the highest activity in scavenging 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl.2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid),hydroxy]radical and reducing power:whereas,methanol extract exhibited higher chelating activity than ethyl acetate extract did.Chloroform was found to be strong inhibitor of lipid peroxidation in β-carotene bleaching assay(91.19%).ferric thiocyanate method(87.55%).and thiobarbituric acid method(82.59%) as compared to butylated hydroxytoluene.Intravenous administration of methanol and ethyl acetate extract(0.04 to 12 mg/kg body weight) decreased the maximum mean arterial blood pressure with values of 20.6%and 32.49%at 12 mg/kg body weight,respectively in anesthetized rats.Conclusions:This study provides a scientific basis for the use of Myruts communis in traditional medicine as hypertensive agent as well as additional resources for natural antioxidants.

Antioxidant antileishmanial cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of a local plant Myrtus nivellei from Algeria Sahara

Objective: To study the phytochemical constituents and in vitro biological activities of hydromethanolic extract and fractions from Algerian Sahara Myrtus nivellei(M. nivellei)collected in Hoggar region and to identify the active fraction that can act as an alternative of commonly used antibiotics and as antileishmanial or antioxidant agents.Methods: Phytochemical screening of M. nivellei aerial parts was realised according to the literature. Extract was firstly prepared by using aqueous methanol then fractionated with ethyl acetate and butanol solvents. Total phenolics, tannis and flavonoids, of the hydromethanolic extract and their fractions were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method as gallic acid equivalents and by aluminium chloride as rutin equivalent respectively.Extract and fractions were tested for their antimicrobial and antiparasital activities against standard bacteria using agar diffusion method and two kinds of leishmania visceral and cutaneous. The antioxidant activities were realized using phosphomolybdenum, FRAP and DPPH tests.Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening exhibited the presence of flavonoids,tannins, saponins, and alkaloids. The experimental results showed that plant extract and fractions were high in phenolic compounds and exhibited an important role as antioxidant,antimicrobial and had a moderate antileishmanial activity.Conclusions: These observations lead us toward more studies in this field, so that we can get more benefits from our local Algerian medicinal plants.

Evaluating the effect of Myrtus communis on programmed cell death in hydatid cyst protoscolices

Objective: To evaluate the possible involvement of programmed cell death strategy in hydatid cyst protoscolices following treatment with Myrtus communis(M. communis) as an herbal medicine.Methods: Protoscolices were aseptically collected from sheep liver hydatid cysts. Evaluating the effect of M. communis extract on programmed cell death and increased activity of caspases 3, 8, and 9 in hydatid cyst protoscolices was conducted by treating the protoscolices with different concentration(5, 50, and 100 mg/mL) of M. communis extract at37C and 5% CO2 for 4 h by using the Bradford test and ELISA commercial kits.Results: The extract of M. communis at all concentrations led to initiation of programmed cell death in protoscolices and this effect, was only significant at 50 and 100 mg/mL concentrations, compared to the negative control(P < 0.05). Also, the activity of caspases3, 8, and 9 in hydatid cyst protoscolices, was shown that the extract at all 3 concentrations could only increase the activity of caspases 3 and 9. Moreover, a significant increase in the activity of caspase 3 was only observed at concentrations 50 and 100 mg/m L by 37.00%and 66.19% while a significant increase in the activity of caspase 9 at the same concentrations was observed by 20.89% and 63.67%, respectively(P < 0.05).Conclusions: The extract of M. communis at different concentrations could increase the activity of caspases 3 and 9 and caused programmed cell death in hydatid cyst protoscolices however, this effect was significant at high concentrations of the extract.

Effectiveness of Myrtus communis in the treatment of hemorrhoids

Myrtus communis is an important plant in the treatment of many different diseases. The aim of this review was to determine the importance of M. communis essential oil in the treatment of hemorrhoids. For preparing this manuscript, the information was extracted from different resources. The results of clinical studies showed that M. communis essential oil（lotion or ointment） can significantly improve bleeding, permanent pain, pain during defecation, anal irritation, anal itching and anal heaviness in patients with hemorrhoids types I and II. M. communis was also effective in treating patients who did not respond to current chemical treatments（antihemorrhoids ointment）. Further clinical studies should look into designing a suppository form of M. communis essential oil and compare its effect with the lotion and ointment forms.

Diversity in chemical compositions of essential oil of myrtle leaves from various natural habitats in south and southwest Iran

Myrtle, Myrtus communis L. （Myrtaceae）, an evergreen shrub also known as wild myrtle, has a history of use as a culinary and medicinal plant. To determine the diversity within the species, plant leaves of myrtle were collected in 12 natural habitats in Iran for investigation of chemical constituents in the essential oil. Extraction of the essential oils produced yields ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 mL per 100 g dry tissue. An analysis of the oils by GC and GC/MS revealed 40 compounds, constituting 90.1-99.9 % of the essential oils. Chemical constituents varied with the site of sample origin, although the principal essential oil compo- nents from all populations, were pinene （17.5-37.1%）, 1,8-cineole （9.9-29.8 %）, linalool （7.0-23.1%）, and a-ter- pineol （5.3-8.3 %）. Limonene （tr, 22.7 %） was a major constituent in three populations. Characterized chemotypes included Chemotype pinene/1,8-cineole/linalool, Chemotype II： a-pinene/linalool, Chemotype III： a-pinene/1,8- cineole, and Chemotype IV： pinene/1,8-cineole/limonene.The main source of variabifity in chemical composition and oil yield appeared to be differences in environmental conditions and chemotypes as plant populations collected from close geographical areas could be classified in a cluster.