because the flowering of these plants being short duration, so species remained
unknown until the studies of Battandier (1907). However, it should be noted that
Vahl and Desfontier around 1820 recorded three Tamarix species in Algerian areas:
T. gallica, T. Africana, and T. articulata in the south (Ouargla, Biskra, and Bechar,
respectively). After that, De Bunge (1852) described T. boveana observed in western
Algeria, in Tafna near to Arzew. In 1853, Jack Gay described four other spices T.
Balansae, T. bounopeae, T. brachystilis and T. panculata. But these results were not
published until 1907 when Battendier published them in “La flore d’Algérie”.
14.2.2 Biology of Tamarix Species
A few species of Tamarix are employed in traditional medicine in Asia and Africa
(Saoud Orfali 2005). They are employed in several treatments, especially as astringent, aperitif, diuretic, and as stimulus of secretion (Gaston 1998). For the Egyptian,
Tamarix have great importance as medicinal and spiritual plant, the leaves and
young branches are cooked to heal edema of the spleen and mixed with ginger for
uterus infections, while the bark is used boiled in addition with vinegar against lice
(Bulos 1983; Saoud Orfali 2005). In addition, population of Dhofar in South of
Oman extracts compounds from Tamarix and use the as antiseptic, they also use the
dried leaves for abscesses and lesions. A solution comosed of Tamarix dried leaves
bioled in water is used to comfort prolonged women labor. The leaves of a Tamarix
species are also used by the population of Southwestern Saudi Arabia to relieve
headache and fever; they employed them locally, draped on the head (Ghazanfar
1994). Tamarix leaves are suitable for leukoderma treatment, irritation, and eye
diseases (Sharma and Parmar 1998). Moreover to medicinal value, Tamarix species
are also used for tanning and persistent staining (Nawwar et al. 1982; Saoud Orfali
2005). Recently, all these traditional biological activities were attributed to chemical
constituents of various Tamarix species. They are identified as polyphenolics,
triterpenes, Flavonoids, tannins, and volatile constituents (Ghazanfar 1994; Saoud
Orfali 2005). Polyphenolics represent the most common phytochemically
investigated compounds in Tamarix species (Saoud Orfali 2005; Bencherif et al.
2019c). These different phenolic compounds include flavonoids, coumarins,
hydrolyzable tannins, organic acids (gallic, ellagic, and cinnamic acids), and finally,
lignans. It was recently proven that these bioactive compounds act as a natural
antioxidant. They can delay the lipids and proteins oxidation by inhibiting the
initiation or/and propagation of oxidative chain reaction. Thus, they may prevent
or repair cell damage caused by oxygen (Bettaib et al. 2017).
14.2.3 Tamarix articulata Vahll (Aphylla (L) Karst, Orientalis)
Tamarix articulata (aphylla) is a desertic species, which is natively found in Asia,
North Africa, and Southeastern Europe (Jaseim et al. 2019) and spreads from Asia
and Arabia to Senegal (Battandier 1907). It was introduced into many areas as
406
K. Bencherif et al.
unknown until the studies of Battandier (1907). However, it should be noted that
Vahl and Desfontier around 1820 recorded three Tamarix species in Algerian areas:
T. gallica, T. Africana, and T. articulata in the south (Ouargla, Biskra, and Bechar,
respectively). After that, De Bunge (1852) described T. boveana observed in western
Algeria, in Tafna near to Arzew. In 1853, Jack Gay described four other spices T.
Balansae, T. bounopeae, T. brachystilis and T. panculata. But these results were not
published until 1907 when Battendier published them in “La flore d’Algérie”.
14.2.2 Biology of Tamarix Species
A few species of Tamarix are employed in traditional medicine in Asia and Africa
(Saoud Orfali 2005). They are employed in several treatments, especially as astringent, aperitif, diuretic, and as stimulus of secretion (Gaston 1998). For the Egyptian,
Tamarix have great importance as medicinal and spiritual plant, the leaves and
young branches are cooked to heal edema of the spleen and mixed with ginger for
uterus infections, while the bark is used boiled in addition with vinegar against lice
(Bulos 1983; Saoud Orfali 2005). In addition, population of Dhofar in South of
Oman extracts compounds from Tamarix and use the as antiseptic, they also use the
dried leaves for abscesses and lesions. A solution comosed of Tamarix dried leaves
bioled in water is used to comfort prolonged women labor. The leaves of a Tamarix
species are also used by the population of Southwestern Saudi Arabia to relieve
headache and fever; they employed them locally, draped on the head (Ghazanfar
1994). Tamarix leaves are suitable for leukoderma treatment, irritation, and eye
diseases (Sharma and Parmar 1998). Moreover to medicinal value, Tamarix species
are also used for tanning and persistent staining (Nawwar et al. 1982; Saoud Orfali
2005). Recently, all these traditional biological activities were attributed to chemical
constituents of various Tamarix species. They are identified as polyphenolics,
triterpenes, Flavonoids, tannins, and volatile constituents (Ghazanfar 1994; Saoud
Orfali 2005). Polyphenolics represent the most common phytochemically
investigated compounds in Tamarix species (Saoud Orfali 2005; Bencherif et al.
2019c). These different phenolic compounds include flavonoids, coumarins,
hydrolyzable tannins, organic acids (gallic, ellagic, and cinnamic acids), and finally,
lignans. It was recently proven that these bioactive compounds act as a natural
antioxidant. They can delay the lipids and proteins oxidation by inhibiting the
initiation or/and propagation of oxidative chain reaction. Thus, they may prevent
or repair cell damage caused by oxygen (Bettaib et al. 2017).
14.2.3 Tamarix articulata Vahll (Aphylla (L) Karst, Orientalis)
Tamarix articulata (aphylla) is a desertic species, which is natively found in Asia,
North Africa, and Southeastern Europe (Jaseim et al. 2019) and spreads from Asia
and Arabia to Senegal (Battandier 1907). It was introduced into many areas as
406
K. Bencherif et al.