Browsing by Author "Nawal Mekersi"

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    Evaluation of the effects of short-term amendment with olive mill pomace on some soil properties
    (SOIL SCIENCE ANNUAL, 2022-01-30) Nawal Mekersi
    The extraction of olive oil produces an enormous quantity of waste, such as olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and olive mill pomace (OMP), The majority of the agricultural wastes, including olive oil mill waste, are used as soil amendments due to their high nutritional value. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the amendment with olive mill pomace from a 3-phase coldpressed system on the characteristics of the soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and organic matter content (OM). The experiment was carried out using increasing rates of olive mill pomace (12.5%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% w/w) plus the control untreated soil in microcosms under laboratory conditions. The results showed that the treatment of soil with olive mill pomace has a signifi cant effect on soil properties (pH, EC, OM, OC, and CaCO ) soil pH was decreased under OMP treatment, especially with high doses of PR4 and PR5, and the electrical conductivity of the soil (EC) was increased, as well as soil carbonate content. Moreover, the soil organic matter content and soil organic carbon content were highly increased under the treatment with OMP. As a result, we can consider the olive mill pomace as a soil fertilizer. Pretreatment of olive mill pomace to reduce acidic pH and salt content before use as a soil amendment is also recommended. 3
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    Investigation of Photoprotective, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant Capacities and LC–ESI–MS Phenolic Profile of Astragalus gombiformis Pomel
    (2021) Kenza Kadi; Nawal Mekersi
    Plant-derived compounds have recently been gaining popularity as skincare factors due to their ability to absorb ultraviolet radiations and their anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In this light, this work aimed to evaluate in vitro the pharmacological activities of the butanolic extract prepared from the aerial parts of Astragalus gombiformis Pomel, an endemic species to southern Algeria. The sun protection factor was used to assess the photoprotective effect (SPF), the protein denaturation method to determine the anti-inflammatory activity, and brine shrimp nauplii and OxHLIA assay, respectively, to assess the cytotoxicity and antioxidant capacity of A. gombiformis. In addition, LC–ESI–MS analysis was employed for the characterization of the phenolic constituents of A. gombiformis. The results showed that A. gombiformis had high capacity for absorbing UV radiations with an SPF of 37.78 0.85 and significant anti-inflammatory activity with a percentage inhibition of 75.38% which is close to that of diclofenac and ketoprofen. In addition, A. gombiformis was found to have effective cytotoxicity against Artemia nauplii with a DC50 value of about 44.7 g/mL, but a weak hemolytic effect against human erythrocytes. LC–ESI–MS results detected the presence of 17 phenolic compounds with a predominance of cirsiliol, silymarin, quercitrin (quercetin-3-Orhamnoside), and kaempferol. Taken together, these results suggest that A. gombiformis extract could be used as a skincare agent in cosmetic formulations, providing excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection, allowing the treatment of skin conditions, as well as a pharmaceutical agent with multidimensional applications.
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    Soil amendment by olive pomace improving soil quality
    (Journal of Natural Resources and Environment, 2022-03-24) Nawal Mekersi
    The majority of agricultural wastes, including olive oil mill waste, are used as soil amendments due to their high nutritional value. Thepurpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the amendment with olive mill pomace from a 3-phase cold-pressed system on the characteristics fertility of the soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and organic matter (OM). The experiment was carried out using twoincreasing rates of olive mill pomace (50% and 100% w/w) plus the control untreated soil in microcosms under laboratory conditions. the results showed that the 50% of olive mill pomace was slightly reduced soil pH and slightly increased on soil (EC), while the 100% of olivemill pomace has a significant decrease on soil pH and a significant increase in soil (EC), Moreover, the amendment of the soil with olivemill pomace has significantly increasing soil organic matter. As a result, we can consider the olive mill pomace as a soil fertilizer.Pretreatment of olive mill pomace to reduce acidic pH and salt content before use as a soil amendment is also recommended.