Managing the Hazards of Aeolian, Fluvial and Coastal Erosion in Gudhi Area-Northern Kuwait Bay

Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research plans to set up some research facilities within the Gudhi area, which lies north of the coastal spill of Kuwait Bay. The area is about 653,000 m2, the region highly sensitive from an environmental perspective and ecological. It is a coastal strip dominated by rich fauna and flora mainly Nitraria retusa forming large nabkhas that attract many wildlife scientists. The presence of nabkhas is a good indicator of fluvial and aeolian activities in the area. The establishment of infrastructures within this area is anticipated to cause significant damage to wildlife. Additionally, any future infrastructures in the area is under the following threats: 1-S and encroachment as it is located within an active wind corridor. 2-Fluvial action during flood seasons as it is located at downstream of Jal Al-Zur watershed. 3-The wave erosion along 1200m coastal margin. As an important role of KISR is the attention and care regarding the environmental aspects associated with project actions, therefore, it is proposed that a proper scientific research project should be implemented prior to the establishment of any infrastructure development. The main objective of this study is to assess and control hazards in the Gudhi area by implementation of native plants and mangroves landscape design. Assessment and monitoring of fauna and flora have provided initial information on existing vegetation, soil properties that are considered important to quantify ecological conditions prior to actual vegetation plantation establishment or restoration effort. Nitraria and Lycium populations were found the most proper in controlling hazards of mobile sand and flush floods for the study area.

Spatial Distribution of Grain Size Within Nitraria retusa Coppice Dune in Kuwait

Nabkhas are desert and sabkha perennial plants that form stabilized dunes. A total of 23 sediment samples were taken from the surface and subsurface (30 cm depth) of nabkha that formed around Nitraria retusa as the dominant perennial plant species in Ghudai-Kuwait. The morphological and ecological functions of sabkha nabkha are distinguishable. The existence of shallow fresh groundwater that floats atop the saline water bodies and is recharged by rainwater and surface drainage routes is due to the presence of thriving nabkhas within a salty sabkha environment. the selected non-protected Nitraria nebkhas have an elongated dome shape with a height of 1.30 m and an average length of 11.80 m. also, the greatest distances between isolated nabkhas are found in Nitraria dominated coppice dunes. There are three types of Nitraria dominated coppice dunes, namely: single (one plant), coupled (two plants), and complex (three or more). Nitraria is considered one of Kuwait’s most effective plant species for trapping mobile sand, Nitraria can to tarp to 21 m3 of mobile sand and dust. The variations in grain size sediments in Nitraria retusa between surface and root zone, border and crest, upwind and downwind, are efficient for retaining water. Furthermore, Nitraria retusa from the sabkha environment is the most effective in collecting mobile sand in the region.

Identification of Main Phenolic Compounds of Nitraria Retusa Leaf and Stem Extracts and Evaluation of Their Anti-Adipogenic Activity in 3T3-L1 Cells

The edible halophyte Nitraria retusa known in traditional medicine purposes was used as a support in this study. The present study investigated the chemical analyses of the general composition of leaf and stem extracts using RP-HPLC. Results showed the richness of these extracts in phenolics especially flavonoids as luteolin-7-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin, quercetin and others. In total, nine compounds were identified for each organ extract. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside and Isorhamnetin are three flavonoids which are common in leaves and stems. Adipogenesis assay was performed to investigate the effect of organs, as well as the three last compounds on the adipocyte differentiation and on the lipid droplets accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Based on Oil-Red-O content quantification in 3T3-L1 cells, results showed that each extract of N. retusa at 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μg/mL could not inhibit the lipid droplet accumulation compared to untreated cells, in dose dependent manner. However, compounds showed better effect especially with isorhamnetin even with 5μM. Moreover, the effect of extracts and single bioactive components on cell proliferation of 3T3-L1 cells showed that stem extract was more efficient than leaf one. Besides, according to morphological observation, isorhamnetin strongly and significantly affected cell proliferation.

Diversity, Ecology and Therapeutic Properties of the Medicinal Plants in Ziban Region (Algeria)

With the aim to assess the floristic population diversity, distribution and therapeutic properties in the Ziban region (Algeria), a survey was conducted along two successive study years in the main area. The objective of this study was to contribute to the knowledge and description of this plant groups with exhaustive inventory spontaneous vegetation. In order to study the dynamics of medicinal plants, we used a quantitative method based essentially on the classic technique of linear surveys and floristic inventory using the minimum area method. The results showed that the floristic procession of medicinal plants is represented by 21 species belonging to the 13 families, with a total of 31 species for the 08 study stations, which represents 68% of the total procession. The results obtained showed that the overall recovery is higher at the Ain Ben Noui station with 69%, even if the clumps of Aristida pungens, Atractylis serratuloides and Atriplexhalimus are isolated and scattered. The lowest overall coverage at the Oumache station is less than 21%, as it is an area with sandy soils. The species that contribute most to the recovery of mobile sand accumulations is Astragalus armatus with a rate of 76.19% at the Ain Ben Noui station. Frequency results allowed us to say that Atriplex halimus and Zizyphus lotus are the ubiquitous species (100% of the surveys). On the other hand, Nitraria retusa, Teucrium polium, Shismus barbatus, Sueda mollis and Halocnemum strobilaceum are the species present in only one survey.

Novel Antioxidant, Anti-α-Amylase, Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Water-Soluble Polysaccharides from the Aerial Part of Nitraria retusa

In this paper, water-soluble polysaccharides (named as NRLP) were extracted from Nitraria retusa leaves. The main structural features of NRLP were determined by High-pressure size exclusion chromatography, Fourier transform infrared and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry-Electronic Impact analysis. The in vitro and in vivo biological potential of NRLP were evaluated by measuring its antioxidant (•OH and DPPH• scavenging, total antioxidant capacity), anti-α-amylase as well as anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities in a mice model. NRLP was composed of Rha (33.7%), Gal (18.1%), GalA (15.0%), Glc (13.3%), Ara (13.3%), Xyl (3.8%), and GlcA (2.8%) and showed a Molecular Weight (Mw) of 23.0 kDa and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 1.66. The investigations highlighted a significant antioxidant activity (IC50 = 2.4–2.6 mg/mL) and an inhibition activity against α-amylase (IC50 = 4.55 mg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner. Further, NRLP revealed interesting anti-edematous effects and antinociceptive activities (both > 70%). These results open up new pharmacological prospects for the water-soluble polysaccharides extracted from Nitraria retusa leaves.