Synergetic Effect between Phenolic Extracts of Ammi visnaga and Zea mays Formulation on the Corrosion of Mild Steel in 1 M HCl Solution

The synergetic effects between hydroethanolic extracts of A. visnaga HE (AV) and Z. mays hairs HE (ZM) on corrosion of mild steel in 1 M HCl solution was investigated at 298 K by two techniques: potentiodynamic polarization (PP) methods (Tafel and Stern & Geary) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The mixture of HE (AV)/HE (ZM) acted as an efficient corrosion inhibitor and its inhibition efficiency increased with concentration up to 96.55% at 0.01 gL−1 HE (AV)/0.2 gL−1 HE (ZM). The polarization curves revealed that the mixture acted as a mixed-type inhibitor, with anodic predominant action. The EIS studies were fitted by the (Rs + CPEdl)/(Rct + CPEf/Rf) equivalent circuit model. The kinetic parameters were in favor of a physisorption character of adsorption of HE (AV)/HE (ZM) components onto the mild steel surface. The influence of exposure time on the efficiency of mixture extract was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX) analyses confirmed the formation of a protective adsorbed film upon the mild steel surface.

Assessment of Conventional Solvent Extraction vs. Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Khella (Ammi visnaga L.) Furanochromones and Their Cytotoxicity

Background: Khella (Ammi visnaga Lam.) fruits (Apiaceae) are rich in furanochromones, mainly khellin and visnagin, and are thus incorporated in several pharmaceutical products used mainly for treatment of renal stones. Methods: The objective of this study was to compare the yield of khellin and visnagin obtained using different conventional solvents and supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) with carbon dioxide (containing 5% methanol as co-solvent). Water, acetone and ethanol (30% and 95%) were selected as conventional solvents. Results: Highest extract yield was obtained from 30% ethanol (15.44%), while SCFE gave the lowest yield (4.50%). However, the percentage of furanochromones were highest in SCFE (30.1%), and lowest in boiling water extract (5.95%). HPLC analysis of conventional solvent extracts showed other coumarins that did not appear in supercritical fluid extraction chromatogram due to non-selectivity of solvent extraction. Ammi visnaga extracts as well as standard khellin and visnagin were tested for their cytotoxic activity using sulforhodamine B assay on breast cancer (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cell lines. Results revealed a strong cytotoxic activity (IC50 < 20 µg/mL) for the SCFE and standard compounds (khellin and visnagin) (IC50 ranging between 12.54 ± 0.57 and 17.53 ± 1.03 µg/mL). However, ethanol and acetone extracts had moderate cytotoxic activity (IC50 20–90 µg/mL) and aqueous extract had a weak activity (IC50 > 90 µg/mL). Conclusions: Thus, supercritical fluid extraction is an efficient, relatively safe, and cheap technique that yielded a more selective purified extract with better cytotoxic activity.

Treatment of patients with advanced diabetes type 2 and hypertension without the use of conventional treatment is possible: white matter alterations and treatment of diabetes and hypertnsion as a new medical hypothesis

Diabetes has been described for 3500 years. Therapeutic options vary but they involve giving insulin or lowering glucose such as metformin. The objective of this study was to report how diabetes type 2 and hypertension can be treated successfully without using the diabetes conventional treatments. A 50 years male with high glucose level (330 mg/dl), HBA1c (9.6%). Blood profile was altered. Hypertension was elevated (145/100) mm hg. The patient expressed his tension and desire not to commit conventional diabetic and hypertension treatment and asked for other therapeutic alternatives. Based on our experience, we recommended him to use two spoon of ground Urtica pilulifera (U. p)/ day, and to use two capsules of Ammi visnaga (A.V) following each meal. Further, the patient followed the dietary restrictions by replacing white bread with a spoon and followed some exercise programs by walking for 30 minutes a day. The results of this program were shown as continuous lowering blood glucose to the level of 117 mg/dl, and blood pressure was 123/79 after 5 days. Taken together, both diabetes type 2 and hypertension can be successfully treated naturally

In vitro mass reduction of calcium oxalate urinary calculi by some medicinal plants

Background Calcium oxalate is the most frequent urinary stone component; it exists in three different crystalline forms. In this case, the most common is the calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite). However, Morocco is one of the countries that has used the traditional medicine based on natural plants to treat many diseases including urolithiasis. In this respect, the most medicinal plants used for this purpose are Herniaria hirsuta L., Opuntia ficus-indica flowers, Zea mays styles and Ammi visnaga L. seeds. The purpose of this work is to study experimentally the effectiveness of each plant on the dissolution of whewellite stones. Methods In 1 L boiled saline solution (9 g/L of NaCl), 5 g of plant extract powder has been introduced. Thereafter, the mixture was left soaked for 15 min and then filtered. Further, a specific installation that resembles the urinary circuit has been conducted in the laboratory. As a starting step, three whewellite stones are placed in contact with extract solutions for 8 weeks. Two other solutions have been used to correct the loss mass: the first one is a solution of potassium citrate of 3 mmol/L served as a positive control, and the second one is a solution of NaCl of 9 g/L without extract used as a reference point. Results After 8 weeks, the loss mass is about 54.88 ± 1.32% with Z. mays styles, 49.86 ± 1.69% with H. hirsuta L., 47.10 ± 1019% with A. visnaga L. and 44.97 ± 1.76% with flowers O. ficus-indica, while the loss of mass in the presence of witnesses solutions is 21.95 ± 0.76% for potassium citrate (C Pot) and 21.05 ± 1.07% in the case of saline solutions. Conclusion Our experiments show the effectiveness of the extracts of four plants specially for Z. mays styles. These extracts can be effective remedies in the oxalocalcic stones’ dissolution.