Laboratory of Bioresources: Integrative Biology and Exploiting, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Avenue Taher Hadded BP 74, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Hassiba Chahdoura
Unité de Recherche “Génomique, Biotechnologie et Stratégies Antivirales”, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie, Université de Monastir, BP74, Avenue Tahar Hadded, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Khaoula Adouni
Laboratory of Bioresources: Integrative Biology and Exploiting, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Avenue Taher Hadded BP 74, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Borhane Eddine Cherif Ziani
Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-Chimiques CRAPC, Tipaza 42000, Algeria
Mejdi Snoussi
Department of Biology, University of Hail, Ha’il P.O. Box 81451, Saudi Arabia
Yasmine Chakroun
Laboratory of Bioresources: Integrative Biology and Exploiting, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Avenue Taher Hadded BP 74, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
María Ciudad-Mulero
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramon y Cajal, s/n, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Virginia Fernández-Ruiz
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramon y Cajal, s/n, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Lotfi Achour
Laboratory of Bioresources: Integrative Biology and Exploiting, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Avenue Taher Hadded BP 74, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Boulbaba Selmi
Laboratory of Bioresources: Integrative Biology and Exploiting, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Avenue Taher Hadded BP 74, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Patricia Morales
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramon y Cajal, s/n, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Guido Flamini
Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Habib Mosbah
Laboratory of Bioresources: Integrative Biology and Exploiting, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Avenue Taher Hadded BP 74, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Wild Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) is a Mediterranean plant that is rich in bioactive metabolites. This study aimed to validate, for the first time, the beneficial use of VAC fruits and fruit decoctions (VFDs) through in vitro and in vivo trials. Forty-one volatile components were detected in VAC fruits, with 1,8-cineole (30.3%) comprising the majority. The antioxidant activity of VFD was measured by using different in vitro methods (EC50 of 0.16 mg/mL by β-carotene bleaching inhibition assay) and by measuring the DNA protection power. Using the disc diffusion assay, the antimicrobial activity of VFD was evaluated, and it exhibited a noticeable anticandidal activity. VFD did not cause any toxicity or mortality in rats treated with doses > 200 mg/kg. Using the acetic acid writhing test, the antinociceptive activity of VFD was measured. Our results showed that VFD at 200 mg/kg exhibited a higher analgesic activity (81.68%) than acetylsalicylic acid used as a positive control (74.35%). Its gastroprotective ability was assessed by HCl/ethanol-induced gastric lesions, which were remarkably inhibited (84.62%) by intraperitoneal administration of VFD. This work helps to validate the popular use of VAC to treat nociceptive, inflammatory, and gastric disorders and encourages researchers to further investigate the identification of pharmacological compounds from this species.
