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Medicinal plants played an important role in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases since antiquities. The aim of the study is to carry out an ethnobotanical survey on medicinal plants used traditionally in cancer treatment in the region of Greater Casablanca-Morocco, and to enhance the traditional herbal medicine knowledge. 110 traditional healers in the study area were interviewed face to face to response a survey questionnaire including the names of plants used in cancer treatment, used parts, methods of preparation, and route of administration. Indices of Fidelity Level (FL), Use Value (UV), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were calculated to identify the most effective plants used for cancer treatment. Eight species were specified including Aristolochia baetica, Aristolochia paucinervis, Bryonia dioica, Aquilaria malaccensis, Marrubium vulgare, Lavandula maroccana, Ephedra alata, and Euphorbia resinifera belonging to 7 families. Aristolochiaceae, Aquilariaceae, and Cucurbitaceae were the most useful families in cancer treatment with high significant indices of UV, FL, and RFC with values of 1, 100%, and 1, respectively. Roots and leaves were the most commonly used plant parts. Decoction and powder mixed with honey were the frequently used method for remedies preparation. The present study showed that the people living in Morocco’s economic capital are still highly dependent on traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of cancer. Therefore, it seems that herbal medicine still plays a crucial role in the primary healthcare system for the local population. During this survey, it was reported that even some plant families are highly toxic for humans like Aristolochiaceae that are frequently used in cancer treatment in the study area. As many people still rely on natural traditional medicine considering (it is safe with no side effects), so combined effort between all social categories including scientists and traditional healers should be established for involving the scientific validity of the used plants in the treatment of diseases.

hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major problem that increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. Although the prevalence of this disease is high in the T2DM population, the risk factors for it remain understudied. The objective of this study is to identify the risk factors combined with hypertension in Moroccan patients with T2DM. this cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2017 and July 2018 in primary healthcare centers. A total of 503 T2DM patients were included. Inclusion criteria: adults (≥18 years) with T2DM for ≥1 year. Exclusion criteria: type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, cognitive impairment, or missing data. Data on demographics, clinical history, and biochemical markers were analyzed using SPSS. Logistic regression identified independent risk factors, reported as adjusted OR with 95% CI. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. a total of 503 patients with T2DM were included (71% female, 29% male), with a mean age of 58.4 ± 10.2 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 70.2%. Patients with hypertension were significantly older (mean age: 61.2 ± 9.8 years vs. 52.6 ± 10.5 years, p ≤ 0.001). The most common cardiovascular risk factors were dyslipidemia (54.1%), obesity (mean BMI: 30.8 ± 5.6 kg/m ), and a sedentary lifestyle (50.6%). Multivariable logistic regression identified older age (OR: 4.74, 95% CI: 2.47-9.10; p ≤ 0.001), longer diabetes duration (OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.14-4.53; p = 0.018), BMI levels (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00-1.10; p = 0.019), dyslipidemia (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.28-3.33; p = 0.003), and therapeutic modifications (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.11-3.53; p = 0.020) as significant risk factors. in this study, we found that hypertension is highly prevalent among patients with T2DM. Our findings indicate that older age, longer diabetes duration, therapeutic modifications, dyslipidemia, and higher BMI levels are significant risk factors for diabetes.

Aristolochia baetica (A. baetica) is a wild species of Aristolochiaceae family; its roots are used by Moroccan people against cancer for many years ago. The objective of the study was to investigate the phytochemical screening, acute and subacute toxicity of A. baetica roots growing in the north of Morocco. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of A. baetica roots were performed using standard methods; the acute toxicity of the root extract of the studied plant was assessed in mice by gavage of single doses of 1, 2, and 4 g/kg body weight for 14 days; by the time the subacute toxicity was done using repeated doses 1, 1.5, and 2 g/kg/day for 28 days. Histological changes and biochemical parameters as markers of kidney and liver function were evaluated. The results of phytochemical screening showed the presence of polyphenols, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and the absence of anthraquinones, sterols, and terpenes. The results of acute toxicity showed the absence of mortality and signs of toxicity in groups treated with 1 and 2 g/kg; however, the clinical signs of toxicity were important and the rate of mortality was estimated at 16 % in the group treated with 4 g/kg. The results of subacute toxicity showed several changes of serum parameters registered in groups treated with 1.5 and 2 g/kg/day, respectively. The results showed also the absence of histological injuries in groups treated with 1 and 1.5 g/kg/day; meanwhile, the histological alterations were remarkable in treated group with the highest dose administered of 2 g/kg/day. The outcome of this work showed that the roots’ extract of the studied plant was toxic in mice with repeated doses, but no toxic effect was observed with a single dose under 4g/kg.

The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (A. platensis)—a genus of nonheterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria—is used in industrial applications and as a food supply. The current research work aims to study the physicochemical characteristics of A. platensis indigenous to the Moroccan Atlantic coast at Laayoune (Foum El Oued lagoon). The contents of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, lipids, minerals, heavy metals, energy value, humidity, ash, pigments, and tannins in A. platensis were investigated using protocols as described in the earlier literature. The values of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contents in A. platensis were 58.9 ± 0.07, 14.67, and 45.54% respectively. The values of vitamins B2 and B3 dosed in A. platensis were 1.31 ± 0.19 and 30.8 ± 0.001 mg/kg, respectively. The values of heavy metals including lead and chromium were 70 ± 4.5 and 5 ± 0.5 PPB (parts-per-billion), respectively; however, no trace concerning cadmium was detected. The values of energy value, humidity, and ash content were 346.48 ± 0.21, 11.6 ± 0.17%, and 9.1 ± 0.21% kcal/100 g, respectively. The results of pigment content showed the presence of chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a, and carotenoids of 37.506 ± 3.38, 26.066 ± 3.08, and 9.52 ± 0.22 mg/g, respectively. The results obtained revealed that A. platensis indigenous to the Moroccan Atlantic coast at Laayoune was found to be very rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, ash, and pigments and lower in heavy metals and saturated fats when compared with species investigated in the literature. Thus, A. platensis indigenous to the Moroccan Atlantic coast at Laayoune fulfills the requirements for being used as dietary supplements.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance. Aristolochia baetica (A. baetica) and Aristolochia paucinervis (A. paucinervis) have been largely used in Moroccan folk medicine. The objective of the study was to investigate the phytochemical composition, the antioxidant activity, the antiproliferative effect, and the acute toxicity of the methanolic extract of A. baetica and A. paucinervis roots. Materials and Methods. Phytochemical composition of the methanolic extract of A. baetica and A. paucinervis roots were studied using qualitative and quantitative methods, the antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH assay, the antiproliferative effects against human cancer cell lines (T-24, HT-29, and Hep G-2) was assessed using WST1 assay, and the acute toxicity was carried out orally by gavage of single dose 2000 mg/kg to mice for 14 days. Results. The two studied plants have different classes of secondary metabolites. The concentrations of the total polyphenolic content of A. baetica and A. paucinervis root extracts were estimated at 360 ± 20 mg GAE/g and 280 ± 27 mg GAE/g, respectively. The total flavonoids content of A. baetica and A. paucinervis extracts were estimated at 35 ± 8 mg QE/g and 235 ± 7 mg QE/g, respectively. A. baetica and A. paucinervis extracts exhibited promising DPPH activity with IC50 values of 150 ± 8 μg/ml and 160 ± 10 μg/ml, respectively. The extracts exerted also antiproliferative effects on all tested cancer cell lines (T-24, HT-29, and Hep G-2) with IC50 values ranging from 6 ± 1 μg/ml to 380 ± 7 μg/ml. Regarding the results of acute toxicity study, no signs of toxicities nor mortalities were observed on the oral treated mice with 2000 mg/kg of the two investigated exacts. Conclusion. The methanolic extracts of A. baetica and A. paucinervis possess several phytochemicals that exhibited promising free radical scavenging activity and antiproliferative effects.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance. Aristolochia paucinervis (A. paucinervis) (Aristolochiaceae) is a plant frequently used in Moroccan alternative medicine. The aim of the current study is to investigate the phytochemical composition of rhizomes decoction of A. paucinervis (RDA) and to evaluate its acute and subacute toxicity following the OECD guidelines. Materials and Methods. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of A. paucinervis was performed using standard qualitative phytochemical procedures. The acute toxicity of rhizomes decoction of the studied plant was evaluated in mice at single doses of 1, 2, and 4 g/kg of body weight for 14 days. In subacute toxicity study, the decoction was orally administered to mice at three different doses (0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg/day) for 28 days. Histopathological and biochemical parameters were investigated. Results. The preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, and polyphenols and the absence of anthraquinones, sterols, and terpenes. There was no mortality and no significant changes occurred in animals treated with 1 and 2 g/kg in the acute toxicity model. The signs of toxicity and morbidity were remarkable with the highest tested dose (4g/kg). LD50 (dose required to kill 50% of the test population) was determined as 4 g/kg. Repeated oral administration of 1 and 1.5 g/kg/day of RDA for 28 days induced significant disturbance of serum parameters (AST, ALT, LDH, urea, creatinine). Kidney and liver extracted from mice fed with 1 and 1.5 g/kg/day showed significant histopathological injuries as tubular necrosis, inflammatory infiltrate, tubular degeneration, necrosis, and hepatic cholestasis. Meanwhile, neither histopathological nor biochemical alterations were observed in mice treated with 0.5 g/kg/day of body weight in comparison to the control group. Conclusion. RDA showed toxicity in mice at a dose of 1 g/kg/day under subacute toxicity conditions. RDA is safe at a single dose inferior to 4 g/kg of body weight. The plant extract prepared by decoction showed more poisonous effect than the extract prepared by maceration at room temperature.

Introduction and purpose : The prescription of the serum protein profile is useful in the diagnostic orientation of certain immune, inflammatory and nutritional diseases. It is recommended by the senior health authority who defines the conditions. We study the conditions of this prescription by evaluating its relevance in the hospital services of Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca. Method : a descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted by a questionnaire containing 23 questions, 4 closed questions, 14 multiple-choice questions, 4 closed-ended questions and an open-ended question form 48 doctors. Results of the study : 81.8% of doctors have not been trained in serum protein profile and 72.9% have gaps in their knowledge of the protein profile. 55.7% of doctors say that biological advice is a great contribution. Conclusion : A relevant prescription requires a good enough training and complementarity between clinicians and biologist because of an accelerated diagnosis.

Bis albuminemia is a rare qualitative anomaly, it is hereditary or acquired and transient and physiopathology remains a little unknown. Indeed, the study presents 6 cases of bis albuminemias collected on 2083 serum protein electrophoresis carried out at the laboratory of biochemistry of CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca over a spread period of one year (2018). The results of electrophoresis serum proteins of 6 reported cases showed bis albuminemias which are all of acquired and transient type, of which 3 cases are related to the drug intake of betalactamine antibiotic and the other 3 are related to the syndrome nephrotic.

Introduction and purpose: The serum protein profile is a very important examination for the diagnosis, monitoring, surveillance and evaluation of certain inflammatory, immune and nutritional diseases, but its prescription remains a little limited. According to the recommendations of the good practices in biology, the prescription of this examination must be carried out under precise conditions. In our context, this technique is poorly prescribed by physicians. The objective of this work is to assess the state of the art of internal and residents doctors regarding the serum protein profile. Method: This is a descriptive, quantitative, exploratory and cross-sectional study supported by a 22 questions questionnaire, with closed questions in numbers of 4, 14 multiple-choice questions and 4 closed-ended questions from 59 physicians. This questionnaire evaluates their knowledge and their need for serum protein profile training as well as their expectation of benefits at the biochemistry laboratory. Results of the study: The exploitation of the results showed a lack of formation in protein profile. 96.3% of resident and internal pediatric physicians did not receive training in this area. 37.5% have unsatisfactory theoretical knowledge of the targeted protein profile. 40.7% of responders indicated that satisfaction with the biochemistry laboratory's performance is moderately satisfied concerning the response time. Conclusion: Training in protein profile is considered necessary for the prescribing doctors in order to consolidate their knowledge for a more useful prescription for the purpose of an improved diagnosis.