Dans la présente étude, nous avons étudié les effets des infusions de feuilles de caroube et de cladodes OFI riches en polyphénols sur l'inflammation associée à l'obésité et la colite ulcéreuse induite par le dextran de sulfate de sodium (DSS) chez les souris suisse.Des études in vitro ont révélé que les extraits aqueux de feuilles de caroube et de cladodes OFI présentaient des propriétés anti-inflammatoires marquées par l'inhibition de la production d'IL-6, de TNF-α et d'oxyde nitrique (NO) dans les cellules RAW 264.7 stimulées par des lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Inhibition de la translocation du noyau NF-κβ.Pour des investigations in vivo, des souris mâles suisses ont été soumises à un régime contrôle (ND) ou à un régime riche en graisses (HFD). A la 4ème semaine après le début de l'étude, les animaux ont reçu ou non 1% d'infusion de feuilles de caroube ou d'OFI-cladode pendant 6 semaines et ont été soumis à une administration de DSS à 2% dans l'eau potable au cours des 7 derniers jours. Après sacrifice, les niveaux de cytokines pro-inflammatoires dans le plasma et l'expression de leur ARNm dans différents organes ont été déterminés. Les résultats ont montré que les infusions de feuille de caroube et de OFI-cladode réduisaient la sévérité de l'inflammation associée à l'obésité induite par HFD et la colite aiguë induite par le DSS indiquée par une diminution de l'expression des cytokines pro-inflammatoires (comme TNF-α, IL1b et IL-6) tissu adipeux et rate. En outre, les taux plasmatiques d'IL-6 et de TNF-α ont également été réduits en réponse au traitement par les infusions. Ainsi, les infusions de feuilles de caroube et d'OFI-cladode ont empêché la perméabilité intestinale grâce à la restauration des protéines de jonctions serrées (Zo1, occludines) et à l'homéostasie immunitaire. Ainsi, l'effet anti-inflammatoire des feuilles de caroube et des cladodes OFI pourrait être attribué à leurs polyphénols qui pourraient atténuer la gravité de l'inflammation associée à l'obésité et à la colite. / In the present study, we have investigated the effects of polyphenol-rich infusions from carob leaves and OFI-cladodes on inflammation associated with obesity and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in Swiss mice. In vitro studies revealed that aqueous extracts of carob leaves and OFI-cladodes exhibited anti-inflammatory properties marked by the inhibition of , TNF-α and nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells concomitant with NF-κβ nucleus translocation inhibition. For in vivo investigations, Swiss male mice were subjected to control or high fat diet (HFD). At the 4th week after the start of study, animals received or not 1% infusion of either carob leaves or OFI-cladode for 6 weeks and were subjected to 2% DSS administration in drinking water over last 7 days. After sacrifice, pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in plasma and their mRNA expression in different organs were determined. Results showed that carob leaf and OFI-cladode infusions reduced inflammation severity associated with HFD-induced obesity and DSS-induced acute colitis indicated by decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines expression (as such TNF-α, IL1b and IL-6) in colon, adipose tissue and spleen. In addition, plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were also curtailed in response to infusions treatment. Thus, carob leaf and OFI-cladode infusions prevented intestinal permeability through the restoration of tight junction proteins (Zo1, occludins) and immune homeostasis. Hence, the anti-inflammatory effect of carob leaves and OFI-cladodes could be attributed to their polyphenols which might alleviate inflammation severity associated with obesity and colitis.

Alternaria spot, caused by Alternaria tenuis, is an important disease of cladodes of the prickly pear cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera) in Brazil. There are no standard methods for assessment of the disease, so a standard area diagram set (SAD) was developed based on disease severity encompassing 2, 4, 7, 12, 22 and 40% of the cladode area spotted. SAD was validated by 10 raters, who analysed 50 cladodes with a range of disease severity, without and with SAD as an assessment aid. The accuracy, precision, reproducibility and repeatability of the estimates with and without the scale were determined using simple linear regression analysis. Without SAD the accuracy and precision of raters estimates were poor, with significantly constant and systematic bias, and determination coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.56 to 0.78. When raters employed SAD, significant reductions were observed in both constant and systematic bias, with R2 ranging from 0.91 to 0.96. In fact, raters achieved the highest repeatability (mean R2 = 0.95) and reproducibility (R2 0.80 in all cases) of estimates when using SAD. The proposed SAD set is suitable for assessment of Alternaria spot of prickly pear cladodes and improves the accuracy and precision of assessments. / A mancha de alternária, causada por Alternaria tenuis, foi detectada em cladódios de palma forrageira miúda (Nopalea cochenillífera) no Brasil em 2001 e, desde então, os relatos de sua ocorrência é conseqüente defoliação de palmas no campo se tornou constante. Devido à inexistência de métodos padronizados para quantificação desta doença desenvolveu-se uma escala diagramática com os seguintes níveis de área lesionada: 2, 4, 7, 12 ,22 e 40%. A validação da escala foi realizada por 10 avaliadores que estimaram a severidade da mancha de alternaria em 50 imagens de cladódios com diferentes níveis de intensidade da doença. A validação se deu em três etapas: i. sem o uso da escala; e ii. Primeira avaliação com a escala; e iii. Segunda avaliação com a escala. O intervalo entre etapas foi de 15 dias. A acurácia, precisão, reprodutibilidade e repetibilidade das estimativas foram avaliadas por meio de análise de regressão linear simples entre a severidade real e a estimada, com e sem auxílio da escala. A escala confeccionada foi de fácil utilização e proporcionou melhoria significativa nas estimativas de severidade, possibilitando bons níveis de acurácia e excelentes níveis de precisão, reprodutibilidade e repetibilidade, podendo ser utilizada em levantamentos de campo, estudos epidemiológicos e comparação de medidas de controle da doença.

In order to evaluate morphological and productive varieties of forage cactus, we conducted an experiment in randomized block design with 24 treatments and four replications. The characteristics assessed related to the plant and cladodes were: number, weight, area and volume of cladodes primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary, area index and total volume of cladodes, production of fresh and dry, plant height and width. We also determined the correlations between the length, width, thickness, area and volume with the weight of cladodes. For the number of cladodes, area index and total volume of cladodes observed higher values for cultivars of the genus Nopalea For the weight, area and volume of cladodes, observed higher values for cultivars of the genus Opuntia. For the production of fresh and dry matter, the highest values were observed in the varieties Negro Michoacan F7 and Tamazunchale V12, respectively. For plant height varieties of the genus Opuntia, were the ones with the highest values. The area and volume of cladodes were the characteristics that showed the highest correlations with the weight of the green cladodes. Varieties Negro Michoacan F7, V7 and Tamazunchale V12 are the most suitable for cultivation. To increase the production of biomass should prioritize increasing the volume and number of cladodes to Nopalea and varieties of the genus Opuntia, respectively / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Objetivando-se avaliar características morfológicas e produtivas em variedades de palma, conduziu-se um experimento em um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com 24 tratamentos e quatro repetições. As características avaliadas referentes aos cladódios e a planta foram: número, peso, área e volume de cladódios primários, secundários, terciários e quaternários, índice de área e volume total de cladódios, produção de massa fresca e seca, altura e largura de planta. Determinou-se também as correlações entre o comprimento, largura, espessura, área e volume com o peso dos cladódios. Para o número de cladódios, índice de área e volume total de cladódios observou-se maiores valores para as cultivares do gênero Nopalea, enquanto para peso, área e volume de cladódios, observou-se maiores valores para plantas do o gênero Opuntia. Para, os. Para as produções de massa fresca e seca, os maiores valores foram observados nas variedades Negro Michoacan F7 e Tamazunchale V12, respectivamente. Para altura de plantas as variedades do gênero Opuntia, foram as que apresentaram os maiores valores. A área e o volume dos cladódios foram às características que apresentaram os maiores coeficientes de correlação com o peso verde dos cladódios. As variedades Negro Michoacan F7, V7 e Tamazunchale V12 são as mais indicadas ao cultivo. Para elevação da produção de biomassa deve-se priorizar o aumento do volume e do número dos cladódios para variedades do gênero Nopalea e Opuntia, respectivamente.

Les orientations de la politique agricole marocaine, notamment le Plan Maroc Vert, encouragent la valorisation des zones arides et le développement de cultures qui s’adaptent au réchauffement climatique. Le figuier de Barbarie est une plante qui s'adapte au climat aride et semi-aride mais il reste encore sous-exploité au Maroc. Les cladodes du figuier de Barbarie sont largement consommées au Mexique et elles contiennent des composants bioactifs qui ont des effets bénéfiques sur la santé. Le jus extrait à partir des cladodes des deux espèces Opuntia ficus-indica (inerme) et Opuntia megacantha (épineuse) a fait l’objet de ce travail. Les cladodes ont été récoltées dans la région de Marrakech (commune rurale Ouled Dlim) au Maroc durant trois saisons entre 2013 et 2014 (printemps, été et hiver) afin d’évaluer l’effet du temps de récolte sur la composition physico-chimique et biochimique ainsi que sur les propriétés antioxydantes. Le rendement en jus des cladodes varie en fonction des saisons et des espèces (20,83 – 63,39 %). Les analyses physico-chimiques et biochimiques ont montré que le jus de cladode est riche en polyphénols (455,65 ± 7,63 – 542,70 ± 1,35 µg EGA/ mL), en acide ascorbique (17,60 ± 1,87 – 22,88 ± 0,62 mg /100 mL) et en potassium (44,23 – 409,35 mg /100 mL), mais pauvre en sucre (0,66 ± 0,01 – 1,45 ± 0,03 g /100 mL). L’analyse HPLC sur les composés phénoliques a montré que le jus de cladode est riche en flavonols à savoir l’isoquercetine et l’hyperoside (645,90 µg/mL et 164,50 µg/mL respectivement). L’activité antioxydante du jus de cladode a été mesurée avec le test FRAP (1,74 ± 0,07 – 3,33 ± 0,02 µmol ET/mL) et l’activité antiradicalaire a été réalisée avec le test DPPH (1,78 ± 0,03 – 4,10 ± 0,02 µmol ET/mL) et le test ABTS (12,78 ± 1,69 – 23,10 ± 0,17 µmol ET/mL). La corrélation entre les analyses a montré qu'il y avait une relation significative (p<0,05) entre les méthodes d’analyses, les espèces et les saisons. Le jus de cladode extrait à partir de l’espèce épineuse (Opuntia megacantha) et la récolte effectuée au mois d’août nous ont donné les plus grandes valeurs en composants biochimiques et pour l’activité antioxydante. L’analyse quantitative du jus de cladode du mois de mars par HPLC-DAD à montré la présence d’une quantitié importante de flavonoïdes essentiellement l’isoquercetine et l’hyperoside. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré la richesse du jus en nutriments et son potentiel antioxydant. Le jus de cladode peut être conservé durant 42 jours à 4°C, après une pasteurisation à 95°C pendant 3 min dans un bain-marie et un abaissement du pH à 3,5 avec de l’acide citrique. Le jus peut être commercialisé sous forme de nectar, thé glacé ou boisson gazeuse, sans oublier une valorisation de ses coproduits (confiture, soupe, poudre, etc.). / The orientations of the Moroccan agricultural policy concerning the Green Morocco Plan, promote the development of the arid zones and the development of crops that adapt to global warming. The prickly pear cactus is a plant which is adapted to the arid climate and still untapped in Morocco. Prickly pear cladodes contain bioactive components that have beneficial health effects. The juice extracted from cladodes of both species Opuntia ficus-indica(spineless) and Opuntia megacantha(spiny) was the subject ofthis work. The cladodes were harvested in the region of Marrakech (Ouled Dlim) in Morocco for three seasons (spring, summer and winter) between 2013 and 2014 to assess the effect of harvest time on the physico-chemical and biochemical composition and antioxidant activity. The yield of cladode juice varies within the seasons and species (63,39 –20,83 %). The physico-chemical and biochemical analyzes showed that cladode juice is rich in polyphenols (543 ± 1–456 ± 8mg GAE/mL), in ascorbic acid (17,60 ± 1,87 –22,88 ± 0,62 mg/100 mL) and in potassium (409,35 –44,23 mg/100mL) but poor in sugar (0,66 ± 0,01–1,45 ± 0,03 g/100 mL). HPLC analysis of phenolic compounds has shown that cladode juice is rich in flavonols namely isoquercetin and hyperoside (645,90 mg/mL and 164,50 mg/mL respectively). The antioxidant activity of cladode juice was measured with FRAP test (1,74 ± 0,07 –3,33 ± 0,02 μmol TE/mL) and the antiradical activity was carried out with the DPPH test (1,78 ± 0,03 –4,10 ± 0,02 μmol TE/mL ) and the ABTS test (12,78 ± 1,69 –23,10 ± 0,17 μmol TE/mL ). The correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant relationship (p<0,05) between the methods of analysis, species and seasons.Quantitative analysis of cladode juice harvested in March HPLC-DAD showed the presence of a significant quantity of flavonoids essentially isoquercetin and hyperoside. Results of these analyzes showed that cladode juice is rich in nutriments and has an antioxidant activity potential. The juice can be stored for 42 days at 4°C, after pasteurization at 95°Cfor 3 min in a water bath and lowering the pH to 3,5 with citric acid. Cladode juice can be used as nectar, iced tea or soft drink and with a valorization of its coproducts (jam, soup, powder etc.).