Papers by Khalil CHERIFI
Clinical Phytoscience, Mar 31, 2020
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder which affects millions of people every year. If diabetes... more Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder which affects millions of people every year. If diabetes is not controlled, it can cause serious damage and a number of health complications. The aim of this paper was to review published ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological evidences of Moroccan plants with antidiabetic potentials. Publications describing the medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes in Morocco were searched from the databases, including Google Scholar, Elsevier, Medline, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Pubmed. Other literature source was also used including books and theses available in library. About 750 literature references were studied, and only 240 research publications based on data from different Moroccan provinces published until June 2019 were included in this review. In total, 255 plants species belonging to 70 families were reported. Compositae and Lamiaceae were mentioned as the most represented families. The frequently used plant species in the dwellers of most regions of Morocco are Trigonella foenum-graecum, Artemesia herba-alba, Nigella sativa, Olea europaea, Allium cepa and Marrubium vulgare. This review provides useful information and current scientific knowledge on the medicinal plants used to manage diabetes in Morocco. Medicinal plants reported should be submitted to chemical, pharmacological and clinical studies to identify pharmacologically active metabolites and to confirm their antidiabetic activity.
Ethnobotanical study and biodiversity of medicinal plants used in the Tarfaya Province, Morocco
Acta Ecologica Sinica
Acta Botanica Gallica Bulletin De La Societe Botanique De France, Apr 27, 2013
Polymorphisme enzymatique de quelques populations naturelles de Medicago ciliaris (L.) Krock et d... more Polymorphisme enzymatique de quelques populations naturelles de Medicago ciliaris (L.) Krock et de Medicago intertexta (L.) Mill.
Agronomie, 1993
— L'évaluation de la diversité génétique a porté sur 11 populations naturelles de Medicago ... more — L'évaluation de la diversité génétique a porté sur 11 populations naturelles de Medicago annuelles, originaires du Nord de la Tunisie : 8 populations de M ciliaris et 3 populations de M intertexta. Vingt caractères morphologiques se rapportant au développement végétatif et reproducteur des plantes cultivées dans des conditions contrôlées ont été retenus dans cette étude. L'analyse canonique discriminante et la distance de Mahalanobis ont révélé au sein de chaque taxon une diversité intraet interpopulations importante. Une distinction relative nette entre les groupes des populations des 2 espèces a été également mise en évidence. Toutefois une population de M intertexta semble présenter des similarités morphologiques avec celles de M ciliaris. Cette situation particulière traduirait la possibilité d'hybridations introgressives entre ces 2 taxons. variabilité morphologique / introgression / Medicago ciliaris / Medicago intertexta / canonique discriminante Summary — Genetic diversity in some natural populations of M ciliaris (L) Krock and M intertexta (L) Mill. I. Analysis of morphological variability. Genetic diversity was studied in 11 wild populations of the annual Medicago in northern Tunisia: 8 populations of M ciliaris and 3 populations of M intertexta. Twenty morphological characters, related to vegetative and reproductive development of plants cultivated in controlled conditions, were studied. Canonical discriminant analysis and Mahalanobis's distance showed an important variability within and between populations, and a net separation between population groups of the 2 species. However, one population of M intertexta seems to present morphological similarity with M ciliaris. This particular situation suggests the possibility of introgressive hybridization between these 2 taxa. morphological variability / introgression / Medicago ciliaris / Medicago intertexta / canonical discriminant * Correspondance et tirés à part
In this work, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of aqueous extracts ob... more In this work, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of aqueous extracts obtained from eight Cistus plant species against the development of Geotrichum citri-aurantii, the causal agent of citrus sour rot. The results demonstrate the in vitro effectiveness of all tested Cistus species aqueous extracts against G. citri-aurantii, the inhibition of mycelial growth ranged between 80 and 100%. Furthermore, Cistus aqueous extracts totally inhibited germination of G. citri-aurantii arthrospores at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. Among the plant species tested, C. laurifolius, C. salviifolius, C. monspeliensis, C. ladanifer and C. populifolius displayed the best fungistatic activity since the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was <0.625 mg/mL. Under in vivo conditions, incidence of sour rot was lowered to 8.33% when fruits were treated with aqueous extracts of C. populifolius and C. creticus compared to 100% in the control. Disease severity was lowered to 3.74, 4.47 and 5.13% when fruits were treated with C. creticus, C. ladanifer and C. populifolius aqueous extracts, respectively. Using such these biopesticides in a replacement for synthetic fungicides or in combination with other established disease management practices could help control citrus postharvest decay in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way.
Growth and proline content in NaCl stressed plants of annual medic species, Sep 2016
Wild populations of Medicago ciliaris and Medicago polymorpha were subjected to four salt treatme... more Wild populations of Medicago ciliaris and Medicago polymorpha were subjected to four salt treatments 0, 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl, plant growth and proline concentration in leaves were assessed. The analyzed data revealed significant variability in salt response within and between the two species, depending on the salinity level. It was found that high NaCl concentrations affected all the growth parameters. However, the reduction was more important at higher NaCl concentrations and the highest reduction was obtained for the populations of Medicago polymorpha where it reached around 90% in root length at 150 mM NaCl for Pmar. The Tunisian population of Medicago ciliaris, prospected on soils affected by salinity, was the best tolerant in all ecotypes studied in this work. This population, exhibits a particular adaptability to salt environment at both germination and seedling stage. Furthermore, the correlation among the studied plants sensitivity and leaf proline concentration showed that high proline contents were related to their reactivity to salt. Consequently, it appeared that proline biosynthesis occurred presumably as a consequence of disturbance in cell homoeostasis and reflected poor performance and greater damage in response to salt stress. These findings indicated that this osmolytes content may be used as another useful criterion to differentiate salt-tolerant from salt sensitive plant in annual medics.
Comparative Salt Tolerance Study of Some Acacia Species at Seed Germination Stage
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the seed germination response of ... more Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the seed germination response of six Acacia species under different NaCl concentrations in order to explore opportunities for selection and breeding salt tolerant genotypes. Methodology: Germination of seeds was evaluated under salt stresses using 5 treatment levels: 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mM of NaCl. Corrected germination rate (GC), germination rate index (GRI) and mean germination time (MGT) were recorded during 10 days.
Results: The results indicated that germination was significantly reduced in all species with the increase in NaCl concentrations. However, significant interspecific variation for salt tolerance was observed. The greatest variability in tolerance was observed at moderate salt stress (200 mM of NaCl) and the decrease in germination appeared to be more accentuated in A. cyanophylla and A. cyclops. Although, A. raddiana, remains the most interesting, it preserved the highest percentage (GC = 80%) and velocity of germination in all species studied in this study, even in the high salt levels. This species exhibited a particular adaptability to salt environment, at least at this stage in the life cycle and could be recommended for plantation establishment in salt affected areas. On the other hand, when ungerminated seeds were transferred from NaCl treatments to distilled water, they recovered largely their germination without a lag period and with high speed. This indicated that the germination inhibition was related to a reversible osmotic stress that induced dormancy rather than specific ion toxicity.
Conclusion: This ability to germinate after exposure to higher concentrations of NaCl suggests that studied species, especially the most tolerant could be able to erminate under the salt affected soils and could be utilized for the rehabilitation of damaged arid zones.
An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the Tata Province, Morocco, Dec 2012
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the Tata Province (South-eastern Morocco) with the aim ... more An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the Tata Province (South-eastern Morocco) with the aim to collect the detailed information about the usage of plants in human therapy. The survey was carried out over a period of 24 months, by means of semi-structured and structured interviews. A total of 900 interviews were conducted with traditional health practitioners and knowledgeable villagers. A total of 163 plant species representing 134 genera and 56 families were used in the treatment of various diseases. The most encountered medicinal plant families were Lamiaceae (12.3% of use-reports), Asteraceae (7.4%), Apiaceae and Fabaceae (6.7%). Plant leaves were the most commonly used plant part, and decoction and infusion were the most common methods of traditional drug preparation. This study has established a monograph of medicinal plants used in traditional herbal medicine in Tata Province. This work is a contribution to the preservation of local knowledge in traditional herbal medicine.
Genetic diversity was studied in 11 wild populations of the annual Medicago in northern Tunisia:... more Genetic diversity was studied in 11 wild populations of the annual Medicago in northern Tunisia: 8 populations of M ciliaris and 3 populations of M intertexta. Twenty morphological characters, related to vegetative and reproductive development of plants cultivated in controlled conditions, were studied. Canonical discriminant analysis and Mahalanobis’s distance showed an important variability within and between populations, and a net separation between population groups of the 2 species. However, one population of M intertexta seems to present morphological similarity with M ciliaris. This particular situation suggests the possibility of introgressive hybridization between these 2 taxa.
Variability of salt tolerance in eight wild populations of two annual Medicago species (Medicago ... more Variability of salt tolerance in eight wild populations of two annual Medicago species (Medicago ciliaris and Medicago polymorpha) was evaluated at germination stage using tree treatments of salinity: 50, 100 and 150 mM of NaCl. Results showed that germination is clearly affected by high salt stress; their germination rate doesn’t exceed 7% at 150 mM. The greatest variability in tolerance was observed at moderate
salt stress (50 mM of NaCl) and the decrease in germination seems to be more accentuated in Medicago polymorpha than Medicago ciliaris. Whereas, the Tunisian population of Medicago ciliaris was the best tolerant in all ecotypes studied in this work. This population prospected on soils affected by salinity, exhibits a particular adaptability to salt environment, at least at this stage in the life cycle. This intra-specific
variation in salt tolerance may be used to select genotypes particularly suitable for cultivation on lands relatively affected by salinity. On the other hand, when ungerminated seeds from NaCl treatments were transferred to distilled water, they recovered largely their germination at all the populations studied after only 2 days. This, indicate that the germination inhibition was related to osmotic stress rather than ion toxicity. In addition, seed germination in all populations tended to be extremely rapid than that observed in distilled water which indicate that this pretreatment raises dormancy.
Six enzyme systems were analysed using horizontal starch gel electrophoresis in 11 populations, o... more Six enzyme systems were analysed using horizontal starch gel electrophoresis in 11 populations, originating from North Tunisia (8 populations of Medicago ciliaris and 3 populations of M. intertexta). The polymorphism index and the Nei's genetic distances were showed higher levels of genetic variability within and between populations in M. intertexta then M. ciliaris. The cluster analysis, based on Nei's genetic distances, was revealed a net separation between the two taxa. However, one population of M. intertexta, originating from Sedjnane (Sed), seems to present enzymatic likeness with M. ciliaris. This result, obtained as morphological analysis, is in favour of introgressive hybridization possibility between M. intertexta and M. ciliaris.
The present study, investigated some reproductive and fertility parameters in some wild populatio... more The present study, investigated some reproductive and fertility parameters in some wild populations, originating from the North Tunisia (4 populations of Medicago ciliaris and 3 populations of Medicago intertexta). Previous finding revealed that these species are genetically distinct and easily recognized by the number of flowers per inflorescence and pod dimensions. However, biometrical traits and isozyme patterns intermediacy between these two species had detected the existence of a potential spontaneous interspecific hybrid originating from Sedjnane locality in Tunisia. Indeed, the present work has shown significant decrease of pollen fertility and seed production for this population when compared to the others (pollen viability 75%, pollen germinability 8% and pod production=9%). These results suggested a possible natural interspecific hybrid and confirming introgressive hybridization possibility between M. intertexta and M. ciliaris.
Conference Presentations by Khalil CHERIFI
Les peuplements naturels de l’arganier présentent une répartition discontinue plus ou moins dense... more Les peuplements naturels de l’arganier présentent une répartition discontinue plus ou moins dense dans l’espace selon l’intervention de l’homme et la sévérité des conditions climatiques. La présente étude cherche à comparer au niveau structuration génétique, des peuplements échantillonnés sur l’Anti Atlas (Oulcaïd, Tafraout, Ait Baha, Lakhssas) et dans des zones présahariennes et sahariennes à l’ouest de Guelmim (Guelmim) et au Sud-Est de Guelmim (Assa-Zag). L’analyse de la diversité génétique a permis de mettre en évidence à l’aide des marqueurs moléculaires microsatellites du type ISSR (inter simple sequence repeat), un niveau de polymorphisme moyen de l’ordre de 53% à travers 79 loci. La population de Ait Baha apparaît la plus diversifiée pour tous les paramètres génétiques intrapopulation (% de locus polymorphe P = 62% ; diversité génétique de Nei h = 0,20 ; richesse allèlique Na = 1,6), alors que la population de Tafraout affiche les valeurs les plus faibles (%P = 40,5 ; h = 0,13 ; Na = 1,4). L’analyse des profils multilocus a montré une structuration génétique très élevée des six populations étudiées (GST = 0,35 ; AMOVA = 0,42 ; Nm = 0,92). Cette structuration est hautement corrélée avec la distance géographique (r²=0.659; P < 0.01). La population la plus isolée géographiquement au sud du Maroc (Assa Zag) se différencie nettement et présente une diversité intra-population similaire à la moyenne des six populations étudiées.
La gestion et la préservation des ressources génétiques de l’arganier nécessitent une description... more La gestion et la préservation des ressources génétiques de l’arganier nécessitent une description aussi exhaustive que possible de la diversité génétique dans les populations actuelles. Dans ce contexte, une analyse ciblée sur les populations de la région d’Essaouira a été menée à l’aide de marqueurs génétiques neutres de type ISSR. Cinq amorces ISSR ont généré un total de 82 loci avec un taux de polymorphisme moyen de 98.78%. La population de Retmana apparaît la moins diversifiée pour tous les paramètres génétiques intra-population (% de locus polymorphes %P = 40 ; diversité génétique de Nei h = 0,13 ; Richesse allélique A = 1,4), par rapport à la population Jbel Kourati (%P= 68 ; A=1,7 ; h = 0,25). Au niveau inter-populations, l’AMOVA a montré que 47% de la variance génétique a été partagée entre les populations. L’indice de différenciation génétique de Nei (Gst= 0,3865) a confirmé ce niveau élevé de différenciation, avec un flux génique très limité estimé à 0,79 par migrant et par génération. Par ailleurs, les distances génétiques selon la tendance littorale ou continentale entre les populations s’avèrent respectées (r² = 0,2248, P).
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Papers by Khalil CHERIFI
Results: The results indicated that germination was significantly reduced in all species with the increase in NaCl concentrations. However, significant interspecific variation for salt tolerance was observed. The greatest variability in tolerance was observed at moderate salt stress (200 mM of NaCl) and the decrease in germination appeared to be more accentuated in A. cyanophylla and A. cyclops. Although, A. raddiana, remains the most interesting, it preserved the highest percentage (GC = 80%) and velocity of germination in all species studied in this study, even in the high salt levels. This species exhibited a particular adaptability to salt environment, at least at this stage in the life cycle and could be recommended for plantation establishment in salt affected areas. On the other hand, when ungerminated seeds were transferred from NaCl treatments to distilled water, they recovered largely their germination without a lag period and with high speed. This indicated that the germination inhibition was related to a reversible osmotic stress that induced dormancy rather than specific ion toxicity.
Conclusion: This ability to germinate after exposure to higher concentrations of NaCl suggests that studied species, especially the most tolerant could be able to erminate under the salt affected soils and could be utilized for the rehabilitation of damaged arid zones.
salt stress (50 mM of NaCl) and the decrease in germination seems to be more accentuated in Medicago polymorpha than Medicago ciliaris. Whereas, the Tunisian population of Medicago ciliaris was the best tolerant in all ecotypes studied in this work. This population prospected on soils affected by salinity, exhibits a particular adaptability to salt environment, at least at this stage in the life cycle. This intra-specific
variation in salt tolerance may be used to select genotypes particularly suitable for cultivation on lands relatively affected by salinity. On the other hand, when ungerminated seeds from NaCl treatments were transferred to distilled water, they recovered largely their germination at all the populations studied after only 2 days. This, indicate that the germination inhibition was related to osmotic stress rather than ion toxicity. In addition, seed germination in all populations tended to be extremely rapid than that observed in distilled water which indicate that this pretreatment raises dormancy.
Conference Presentations by Khalil CHERIFI