Inventory and Analysis of Phytodiversity along an Altitudinal Gradient in the Southern Slope of the Mount of Tessala (Western Algeria)

Our work consists in inventorying and analyzing the phytodiversity along an altitudinal gradient of the southern slope of the mount of Tessala (north-western Algeria). For this purpose, we choose seven stations, inside each one of them floristic statements are realized. The inventory carries out on the whole of the stations made it possible to draw up a floristic list represented by 103 species, distributed on 39 botanical families dominated by Asteraceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae and Brasicasseae. The biological spectrum of these species reveals the predominance of the hemicryptophytes and the therophytes, and on the physiognomical level, the vegetation of our stations allows distinguishing from the tree, shrubby, bushy and herbaceous formations. The processing data obtained by the factorial analysis of correspondences (AFC) and by ascending hierarchical classification (CHA) emphasize the existence of two groups of stations. A first group of stations are located in altitude, less degraded, more diversified and where in particular the phanerophyts dominate. A second group of stations are located in low altitude, little diversified and where the degradation of vegetable cover is important, resulting in the installation of the hemicryptophyts and the therophyts.

Characterization of Habitat of Rhamnus alaternus L. at the Jebel Tessala （North-Western Algeria）

In this study, the authors were interested to the evaluation of biodiversity in the Jebel Tessala. Ten stations were selected based on altitudinal gradient, inside each station, identified flora has been conducted and a soil sample was taken from. A floristic inventory was carried out from all stations characterizing habitat of our studied taxon which is Rhamnus alaternus L. The authors established a list of plants represented by 94 species, distributed in 46 botanical families that are dominated by Asteraceae. The biological spectrum of these species reveals the dominance of hemicryptophytes and therophytes. The biogeographical element which predominates the vegetation is the Mediterranean-type. Statistical processing PCA （principal component analysis） from the pedological analysis of the examined stations reveals the formation of three groups defining a set of station that are marked by the presence of some components of the soil. Data processing obtained by FCA （factorial correspondence analysis） and the ascending hierarchical classification had underscored the existence of two groups of strata according to the soil substrate.

Antibacterial Effect of the Essential Oils Extracted From Ruta chalepensis L. and Ruta montana （L.） L.

Ruta genus is a member of the family Rutaceae that has been cultivated widely in many regions of the world because of its medicinal properties. In Tessala Mountain （Sidi Bel Abbes Country, North-Western of Algeria）, the Ruta genus commonly known by ＂fidjel＂ is represented by two species： Ruta Chalepensis L. and Ruta Montana （L.） L. frequently used by local population in a traditional treatment. The water-distilled essential oils from this species yielded 7.23% and 6.104% for Ruta chalepensis L. and Ruta montana （L.） L. respectively. The essential oil of Ruta montana （L.） L. showed a strong antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains tested （Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Mycobacterium kansasii ATCC ! 2478 and Mycobacterium vaccae ATCC 1548314） compared to Ruta chalepensis L. oils which have a moderate effect only on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Therefor, the antibacterial properties of the essential oils of Ruta Chalepensis L. and Ruta Montana （L.） L. are now well established through this study and therefore could justify their future uses in the treatment of nosocomial infections.