Abstract
In arid and semi-arid regions, plants are often subjected to severe environmental conditions such as salinity, drought and extreme temperatures. Halophyte species are salt-tolerant plants which are characterized by high physiological plasticity and are able to thrive under stressful conditions by developing adaptive responses including the synthesis of several bioactive molecules such as terpenoids, phenolic compounds, sterols, polysaccharides, carotenoids, vitamins and glycosides. These primary and secondary metabolites possess potent biological activities including antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer ones and epidemiological research suggests that these compounds may help prevent several chronic diseases, such as diabetes, chronic inflammation, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders. Because of their high content on these bioactive metabolites, halophytes may offer a valuable source of healthy products and could be used as functional foods and nutraceuticals. This chapter deals with the ethnopharmacological uses of two famous halohyte genus; Zygophyllum and Nitraria in traditional medicine and reviews recent investigations on their phytochemical compositions and biological activities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abdelly C, Debez A, Smaoui A, Grignon C (2011) Halophyte-fodder species association may improve nutrient availability and biomass production of the sabkha ecosystem. In: Ztürk MÖ et al (eds) Sabkha ecosystems, tasks for vegetation science, vol 46. Springer, Berlin, pp 95–104
Aboul-Enein AM, Abu El-Ela F, Shalaby AE, El-Shemy HA (2012) Traditional medicinal plants research in Egypt: studies of antioxidant and anticancer activities. J Med Plant Res 6:689–703
Ahmad VU, Ghazala A, Uddin S, Ali MS (1993) Saponins from Zygophyllum propinquum. Phytochemistry 33:453–455
Ait El Cadi M, Khabbal Y, Alaoui K, Faouzi M-A, Bruno E, Mahraoui L, Cherrah Y (2008) Activité anti-diarrhéique de Zygophyllum gaetulum. Phytothérapie 6:2–4
Ait El Cadi M, Makram S, Ansar M, Khabbal Y, Alaoui K, Cherrah Y, Taoufik J (2012) Activité anti-inflammatoire des extraits aqueux et éthanolique de Zygophyllum gaetulum. Ann Pharm Fr 70:113–116
Amin E, El-Hawary SS, Fathy MM, Mohammed RA, Zulfiqar TN, Wedge DE, Becnel JJ, Khan IA (2011) Triterpenoidal saponins: bioactive secondary metabolites from Zygophyllum coccineum. Planta Med 77:488–491
Aquino R, Tortora S, Fkih-Tetouani S, Capasso A (2001) Saponins from the roots of Zygophyllum gaetulum and their effects on electrically-stimulated guinea-pigileum. Phytochemistry 56:393–398
Atta AH, Mouneir SM (2004) Antidiarrhoeal activity of some Egyptian medicinal plant extracts. J Ethnopharmacol 92:303–309
Ayad R, Rahai M, Azouzi S, Louaar S, Dendougui H, Akkal S, Medjroubi K (2012) Phytochemical investigation of the endemic plant Zygophyllum cornutum. Chem Nat Compd 48:313–314
Bellakhdar J (1997) La pharmacopéee marocaine traditionnelle: médecine arabe ancienne et savoirs populaires. Ibis Press, Paris, p 764
Bellakhdar J, Claisse R, Fleurentin J, Younos C (1991) Repertory of standard herbal drugs in the Moroccan pharmacopoeia. J Ethnopharmacol 35:123–143
Boubaker J, Skandrani I, Bouhlel I, Ben Sghaier M, Neffati A, Ghedira K, Chekir-Ghedira L (2010) Mutagenic, antimutagenic and antioxidant potency of leaf extracts from Nitraria retusa. Food Chem Toxicol 48:2283–2290
Boubaker J, Bhouri W, Ben Sghaier M, Bouhlel I, Skandrani I, Ghedira K, Chekir-Ghedira L (2011) Leaf extracts from Nitraria retusa promote cell population growth of human cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. Cancer Cell Int 11:37
Chaâbane M, Maktouf S, Sayari N, Zouari S, Zeghal N, Ellouze-Ghorbel R (2014) Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the extracts from Nitraria retusa fruits and their applications to meat product preservation. Ind Crop Prod 55:295–303
Chaieb M, Boukhris M (1998) Flore succincte et illustrée des zones arides et sahariennes de Tunisie. Associations pour la protection de la nature et de l’environnement, Sfax
Daoud HS, Al-Rawi A (1985) The flora of Kuwait: dicotyledoneae, vol 1. KPI Publishers, London
El Ghoul J, Ghanem-Boughanmi N, Ben-Attia M (2011) Biochemical study on the protective effect of ethanolic extract of Zygophyllum album on streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress and toxicity in mice. Biomed Prev Nutr 1:79–83
El Ghoul J, Smiri M, Ghrab S, Boughattas NA, Ben-Attia M (2012) Antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of traditional aqueous extract of Zygophyllum album in streptozotocin diabetic mice. Pathophysiology 19:35–42
Hadj Salem J, Chevalot I, Harscoat-Schiavo C, Paris C, Fick M, Humeau C (2011) Biological activities of flavonoids from Nitraria retusa (Forssk.) Asch. and their acylated derivatives. Food Chem 124:486–494
Halim Ahmed F, Saad Hassan-elrady A, Hashish Nadia E (1995) Flavonol glycosides from Nitraria retusa. Phytochemistry 40(349):351
Hani AME, Shaker KH, Pollmann K, Seifert K (1995) Triterpenoid saponins from Zygophyllum species. Phytochemistry 4:1233–1236
Hassanean HA, Desoky EK (1992) An acylated isorhamnetin glucoside from zygophyllum simplex. Phytochemistry. 31(9):3293–3294
Hassanean HA, El-Shanawany MA, Bishay DW, Franz G (1989) Saponins from Zygophyllum album. Bull Pharmacol Sci 12:117
Hussein SR, Salwa Æ, Kawashty A, Mohamed Æ, Tantawy E, Nabiel Æ, Saleh AM (2009) Chemosystematic studies of Nitraria retusa and selected taxa of Zygophyllaceae in Egypt. Plant Syst Evol 277:251–264
Hussein SR, Mona MM, Lamyaa FI, Salwa AK, Nabiel AMS (2011) Flavonoids of Zygophyllum album L. and Zygophyllum simplex L. (Zygophyllaceae). Biochem Syst Ecol 39:778–780
Jaouhari JT, Lazrek HB, Seddik AJ (1999) Hypoglycaemic response to Zygophyllum gaetulum extracts in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Ethnopharmacol 64:211–217
Ksouri R, Ksouri WM, Jallali I, Debez A, Magne C, Isoda H, Abdelly C (2012) Medicinal halophytes: potent source of health promoting biomolecules with medical, nutraceutical and food applications. Crit Rev Biotechnol 32:289–326
Le Houérou HN (1980) Browse in North Africa. In: Le Houérou HN (ed) Browse in Africa. International Livestock Center for Africa, Addis Ababa, pp 55–82
Mahmoud T, Gairola S (2013) Traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants in the Eastern Desert of Egypt: a case study from Wadi El-Gemal National Park. J Med Plants Stud 1:10–17
Megdiche Ksouri W, Medini F, Mkadmini K, Legault J, Magné C, Abdelly C, Ksouri R (2013) LC–ESI-TOF–MS identification of bioactive secondary metabolites involved in the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of the edible halophyte Zygophyllum album Desf. Food Chem 139:1073–1080
Mnafgui K, Hamden K, Salah H, Kchaou M, Nasri M, Slama S, Derbali F, Allouche N, Elfeki A (2012) Inhibitory activities of Zygophyllum album: a natural weight-lowering plant on key enzymes in high-fat diet-fed rats. Evid Based Complement Altern Med ID 620384:9
Mohamed AA, Ali SI, El-Baz FK, Hussein SR (2014) Comparative study of antioxidant activities of Nitraria retusa and quantification of its bioactive components by GC/MS. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res 29:241–246
Pöllmanns K, Agel T, Elgamal HA, Shaker CA, Ifert K (1997) Triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Zygophyllum species. Phvtochemistry 44:485–489
Saleh NAM, El-Hadidi MN (1977) An approach to the chemosystematics of the zygophyllaceae. Biochem Syst Ecol 5:121–128
Subhashini P, Dilipan E, Thangaradjou T, Papenbrock J (2013) Bioactive natural products from marine angiosperms: abundance and functions. Nat Prod Bioprospect 3:129–136
Tackholm V (1974) Student flora of Egypt. Published by Cairo University printed by cooperative printing company
Tigrine-Kordjani N, Meklati BY, Chemat F (2006) Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the essential oil of Zygophyllum album L., an aromatic and medicinal plant growing in Algeria. Int J Aromather 16:187–191
Tigrine-Kordjani N, Meklati BY, Chemat F (2011) Contribution of microwave accelerated distillation in the extraction of the essential oil of Zygophyllum album L. Phytochem Anal 22(1):1–9
White F (1983) The vegetation of Africa, a descriptive memoir to accompany the UNESCO/AETFAT/UNSO vegetation map of Africa. UNESCO. Nat Resour Res 20:1–356
Zar Kalai F, Han J, Ksouri R, El Omri A, Abdelly C, Isoda H (2013) Antiobesity effects of an edible halophyte Nitraria retusa Forssk in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and in C57B6J/L mice fed a high fat diet-induced obesity. Evid Based Complement Altern Med. ID 368658:11
Zar Kalai F, Han J, Ksouri R, Abdelly C, Isoda H (2014) Oral administration of Nitraria retusa ethanolic extract enhances hepatic lipid metabolism in db/db mice model ‘BKS.Cg-Dock7m+/+ Leprdb/J’ through the modulation of lipogenesis–lipolysis balance. Food Chem Toxicol 72:247–256
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bourgou, S., Megdiche, W., Ksouri, R. (2017). The Halophytic Genus Zygophyllum and Nitraria from North Africa: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Overview. In: Neffati, M., Najjaa, H., Máthé, Á. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1120-1_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1120-1_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-024-1119-5
Online ISBN: 978-94-024-1120-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)