Pharmaceutical biology and bioactive properties of Rhamnus alaternus L.: A comprehensive evaluation of extraction methods and antioxidant potential

 Abdelkader Hamiani^1,2, Salim Bouchentouf^3,4*, Naima Hammoudi¹, Nadia Kambouche²

¹University of Abdelhamid Ibn Badis, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Computer Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Mostaganem, Algeria
²University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Faculty of Exact and Applied Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, Oran, Algeria
³University of Saida (Dr. Moulay Tahar), Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Department of Process Engineering, BP 138, Cité EN-NASR, Saïda 20000, Algeria
⁴University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Natural and Bioactive Substances (LASNABIO), P.O. Box 119, Tlemcen 13000, Algeria

ARTICLE INFO	ABSTRACT
TYPE: Original scientific paper https://doi.org/10.17508/CJFST.2026.18.1.09 PDF	Rhamnus alaternus L. (Rhamnaceae) is used in Algerian traditional medicine for treating hepatic and dermatological conditions. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the phytochemical profile and bioactivities of Soxhlet extracts (dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol) and hydrodistilled essential oil (1.9% yield) from Algerian R. alaternus leaves. The methanolic extract demonstrated superior performance, exhibiting the highest total phenolic content (220.0 ± 0.335 mg GAE/g) and the most potent antioxidant activity, with a DPPH IC₅₀ of 3.50 ± 0.10 µg/mL and a FRAP value of 0.100 ± 0.138 mmol Fe²⁺/g. Notably, this phenolic content is approximately 25% higher than that reported from other Mediterranean regions. HPLC analysis identified quercetin and ascorbic acid as the major bioactive constituents. The extracts also showed significant, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, and Candida albicans, with the dichloromethane extract exhibiting antifungal effects. This study establishes the Algerian variant of R. alaternus as a particularly rich source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents, thereby validating its traditional use and highlighting its strong potential as a dual-function agent for applications in food preservation and nutraceuticals.
*CORRESPONDENCE Salim Bouchentouf bouchentouf.salim@yahoo.fr
ARTICLE HISTORY Received: November 26, 2025 Accepted: April 22, 2026
CITATION Hamiani A, Bouchentouf S, Hammoudi N, Kambouche N. Pharmaceutical biology and bioactive properties of Rhamnus alaternus L.: A comprehensive evaluation of extraction methods and antioxidant potential. Croatian Journal of Food Science and Technology (2026) 18 (1) 113―133
COPYRIGHT: © 2026 by the author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND).
	KEYWORDS Rhamnus alaternus; natural antioxidants; antimicrobial activity; phenolic compounds; natural food preservatives
	KEY CONTRIBUTION Algerian Rhamnus alaternus possesses a superior phenolic profile, with its methanolic extract yielding 220.0 mg GAE/g. It exhibits exceptional antioxidant potency, evidenced by a DPPH IC50 of 3.50 μg mL-1, comparable or superior to pure quercetin and ascorbic acid. The extracts show broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against key foodborne pathogens like E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and B. cereus. Potent natural antifungal activity is revealed, with the dichloromethane extract outperforming amoxicillin against C. albicans. These findings position R. alaternus as a highly promising dual-function natural agent for food preservation, capable of inhibiting both oxidative rancidity and microbial spoilage.