Valorization of Morchella esculenta (Ascomycota) Using a Healthy Extraction Method: Investigation of Bioavailability, Anti-Acetylcholinesterase, and Antioxidant Potentials.

Edible fungi are unexploited natural sources of high added value biomolecules, such as phenolic compounds. This study used an innovative and green extraction method based on the quick, easy, new, cheap, reproducible (QUENCHER) process of Morchella esculenta. The QUENCHER extract had a much higher concentration of total polyphenols [(125 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight (DW)], flavonoids [38 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g DW], flavanols [22 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/g DW], and proanthocyanidins [44 mg CE/g DW] than the traditional aqueous extraction.

In Silico and In Vivo Biological Evaluation of Extracts from Tunisian Desert Truffles ( and ) on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice.

The present work focuses on studying the effectiveness of truffle extract administration to enhance memory functions in a scopolamine-induced amnesia mice model. Major phytochemical constituents, gallic acid and myricetin, underwent studies using Autodock Vina and Discovery Studio visualizer software. Male mice were pretreated orally with either truffle extracts (400 mg/kg) or donepezil (3 mg/kg) for 21 days.

Assessing Tunisia's urban air quality using combined lichens and Sentinel-5 satellite integration.

In Tunisia, urban air pollution is becoming a bigger problem. This study used a combined strategy of biomonitoring with lichens and satellite mapping with Sentinel-5 satellite data processed in Google Earth Engine (GEE) to assess the air quality over metropolitan Tunis. Lichen diversity was surveyed across the green spaces of the Faculty of Science of Tunisia sites, revealing 15 species with a predominance of pollution-tolerant genera.

Parietin, the Vibrant Natural Dye in Xanthoria parietina.

The use of natural dyes in several areas is regulated by current European and non-European legislation, due to various problems with synthetic dyes. The analysis revealed that the lichen studied: Xanthoria parietina has potential natural dye sources and provides bright colors for extraction solvents. Furthermore, dyed wool and toile fabric have good fastness properties in ammonia fermentation and boiling water, both with and without mordants.

Selecting the species to be used in lichen transplant surveys of air pollution in Tunisia.

This study was undertaken with the aim of selecting one or more lichen species that are the most suitable for transplant-based surveys of air pollution in Tunisia, in areas where the local native lichen vegetation is scanty or missing at all. To this purpose, four epiphytic (tree inhabiting) lichen species (Evernia prunastri, Flavoparmelia caperata, Parmotrema perlatum, Ramalina farinacea) were collected from the Babouch forests, a remote and unpolluted area of NW Tunisia, and analyzed for their content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), namely Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn, by ICP-MS. Moreover, also the physiological status of the lichen samples was evaluated by measuring their chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, and spectral reflectance.

HPLC analysis, mycochemical contents and biological activities of two edible hypogeous ascomycetes: and .

Truffle, the hypogeous, ascomycetous macrofungus, has been recognized as a delicacy for centuries, and it is gaining elevated status in the culinary domain. The chemical composition and biological activities of aqueous extract and ground material of two desert Tunisian and were studied for the first time. Using three assays antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract and ground material of the two truffles were investigated.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Compounds Isolated from Tunisian Lichens Species.

The lichen's special symbiotic structure enables it to produce bioactive substances. They have historically been recognized for their aesthetic and medicinal benefits. Furthermore, in recent years, they have performed in various fields, including perfumery, dyeing, and pharmacology due to their rich secondary metabolites.

Phenolic Content, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Activities of Biosynthesized and Characterized Silver Nanoparticles from Tunisian Medicinal Lichen Species.

Lichens produce a myriad of bioactive compounds that can be exploited as reducing and capping agents in the green process of synthesizing nanoparticles. In this study, we exploit a simple, environmentally safe method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), using aqueous extracts of three lichen species (Lobaria pulmonaria, Ramalina farinacea, and Evernia prunastri) for the first time. Characterization showed that the three lichen species selected could be perfectly suitable as reducing agents to produce AgNPs.

Mycochemical Contents and Biological Activities of Three Wild Mushrooms from Tunisia.

The objective of the current study was to compare the mycochemical composition and biological activities of two extracts (aqueous extracts and ground materials prepared with the QUENCHER approach) of three wild Basidiomy-cetes, Agaricus vaporarius, Lactarius deliciosus, and Lycoperdon pyriforme, collected from a region located in the north of Tunisia. Mycochemical analysis in terms of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, flavanols, proanthocyanidins, and tannin contents were determined. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the mushrooms were evaluated using three assays (2,2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, and metal chelating assay).

Green Roccella phycopsis Ach. mediated silver nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, phenolic content, antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-acetylcholinesterase capacities.

In this study, we develop here for the first time an easy, eco-friendly method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the lichen Roccella phycopsis. AgNPs formation was first determined by a color change of the lichen filtrate to brown, subsequent to addition of AgNO solution, and confirmed by a maximum absorbance peak at 425 nm in UV-vis spectrum. Scanning electron microscope images showed a spherical shape with a size distribution between 11 and 18 nm, while the elemental composition was elucidated by the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Does the lichenicolous fungus affect the antimicrobial potential of its host ?

The effects of the lichenicolous fungus on the antimicrobial potential of the lichen demonstrated that the extracts investigated have antimicrobial potential against gram-positive and negative bacteria, and yeast, and inhibit the germination of fungal spores. Inhibition activity varied considerably depending on the extract, the bacterial species, and the absence or presence of ; unparasitised has a higher antimicrobial activity. Methanol and acetone extracts of alone have higher inhibition diameters than with against ; the methanol extract of showed the best inhibition (250 µg/ml).

Lichenochemical Screening and Antioxidant Capacity of Four Tunisian Lichen Species.

The phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of four Tunisian lichen species, Cladonia rangiformis, Flavoparmelia caperata, Squamarina cartilaginea and Xanthoria parietina, were determined in order to provide a better understanding of their lichenochemical composition. Powdered material of F. caperata was the richest in total phenolic content (956.

Determination of phenolic compounds by MALDI-TOF and essential oil composition by GC-MS during three development stages of Origanum majorana L.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the maturation process of sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) on essential oil composition, the phenolic profile of ethanolic extract and their antioxidant capacities. The essential oil composition was studied at three stages of maturity by GC-MS.

Phenolic profiling and antioxidant capacity of Calligonum azel Maire, a Tunisian desert plant.

The comprehensive phenolic fingerprint of Calligonum azel Maire plant fractions, collected from the Tunisian Desert, have been assessed for the first time as a source of natural antioxidants. Total phenolic content (TPC), Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) in scavenging DPPH, ABTS and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were determined. C.

Evaluation of Calligonum azel Maire, a North African desert plant, for its nutritional potential as a sustainable food and feed.

This study is the first to evaluate the potential of Calligonum azel Maire as a food ingredient. The plant materials flowers, leaves, stems and roots were analyzed by wet-chemical and instrumental methods for major and minor composition. The highest protein and sugar contents were recorded in the flowers (17.

Screening of Bioactive Compounds of Medicinal Mushrooms Collected on Tunisian Territory.

This study is, to our knowledge, the first to investigate the pharmacological importance of wild Tunisian mushrooms. Ethanolic extracts of 5 Tunisian mushrooms-Phellinus torulosus, Fomes fomentarius, Trametes versicolor, Pisolithus albus, and Fomitopsis pinicola-were collected from the Kroumirie Region (North Tunisia). The dry basidomes of mushrooms were extracted using ethanol and evaluated for total polyphenol, flavonoid, flavonol, tannin, proanthocyanidin, and anthocyanin content.

In vitro digestion, antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of two species of Ruta: Ruta chalepensis and Ruta montana.

Context: Ruta genus (Rutaceae) is abundantly used and described in the most ancient systematic records of medical practice of the Mediterranean world. In Tunisia, this genus is represented by two medicinal and aromatic shrubs: Ruta chalepensis L. and Ruta montana L.

Barks Essential Oil, Secondary Metabolites and Biological Activities of Four Organs of Tunisian Calligonum azel Maire.

This study is the first to investigate the chemical composition of barks essential oil (EO), secondary metabolites and biological activities of the MeOH and infusions extracts of seeds, leaves, barks and roots of Calligonum azel Maire (Polygonaceae) harvested from Tunisian desert. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) results showed the presence of fifty-four compounds in barks EO. The major components were: viridiflorol (14.

Influence of salt stress on essential oil yield and composition of lemon grass (Cymbopogon schoenanthus L. Spreng. ssp. Laniger (Hook) Maire et Weil).

Cymbopogon is an aromatic plant valued for its citrus scent aroma. In this article, the effect of saline irrigation water on yield and quality of Cymbopogon schoenanthus L. was evaluated.