Research on a compound's antioxidant activity is crucial given that it impacts cell homeostasis due to the imbalance between oxidative and antioxidant molecules, with an increased oxidative one. Reactive species, including reactive nitrogen species (RNSs) and reactive oxygen species (ROSs), as well as lipid peroxidation caused by the production of free radicals, are implicated in numerous clinical illnesses, including neurological and cardiovascular diseases (Valko et al., 2007). Additionally, as molecules with different chemical structures found in medicinal plants have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity, the use of plants, parts of them, or extracts from them, as anti-inflammatory chemicals are rising and expanding. Twenty years ago, more than 300 plant-derived chemicals were reported to have anti-inflammatory properties in the literature (Perez, 2001).

Consequently, scientists worldwide are highlighting natural products (NPs) as possible sources of bioactive chemicals. NPs and their derivatives are chemical sources that show promise and are the source of many medications utilized in clinical practice (da Costa et al., 2023). 787 (41.8%) of the 1881 drugs authorized between 1981 and 2019 are NPs or their derivatives, according to Newman and Cragg (2020).

Moreover, The World Health Organization declared diabetic mellitus (DM) to be widespread. Managing primary DM and its complications is costly for individuals with the condition and international healthcare systems. Significant research has been conducted on screening anti-diabetic medications during the last few decades. Over the past few decades, screening anti-diabetic drugs has been the subject of substantial research. Since ancient times, NPs have been a significant source of medicines; now, nearly half of all medications are made from them. Many NPs, particularly plant drugs, have been recommended to treat DM (Qi et al., 2010).

The most prevalent mental illness in older people is common anxiety disorder. In general, some psychotherapy medications can be used to treat anxiety problems. Aside from lowering anxiety, sedatives and hypnotics also help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer (Akkol et al., 2020). Since most sedative drugs have a variety of adverse effects, such as memory loss, cognitive decline, and poor performance during the day, it is usually not recommended to use them for longer than four weeks (Kim et al., 2022). Thus, it has been widely reported that several plants can be used as sedatives in traditional medicine (Hennebelle et al., 2007). Several natural compounds isolated from the plants, such as flavonoids (Fernández et al., 2004; Gazola et al., 2018; Shanmugasundaram et al., 2018), alkaloids (Joullié and Richard, 2004), saponins (Jiang et al., 2007), and polysaccharides (Jiang et al., 2007), were used to investigate their sedative effects.

Evidence surrounding the uses of medicinal plants with numerous therapeutic benefits has been gathered through an ethnobotanical survey of the Tamanrasset population in the Algerian Sahara (Ramdane et al., 2015). The Atractylis aristata Batt. as far as this survey indicates, plant species, also known as Ameskekk in Tamahaq, the indigenous language of the Touareg people residing in the southern region of Algeria, is, one of the least researched plant species. Furthermore, indigenous inhabitants of Tamanrasset (south Algeria) utilize the aerial parts and leaves of Atractylis aristata, a member of the Asteraceae family's largest and most diverse genus Atractylis, to treat fever, digestive disorders, and allergies (Ramdane et al., 2015). The species comprising this genus, which find application in conventional medicine, are renowned for their anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties, as well as their ability to treat urinary retention, intestinal parasites, and snakebite toxicity (El Rhaffari and Zaid, 2002; Daniele et al., 2005; Akram et al., 2018). To our knowledge, Atractylis aristata Batt., a plant under consideration, is not widely recognized or investigated. This subspecies is a perennial plant, forming large hemispherical tufts. It is characterized by capitula 8–14 mm in diameter, not including the surrounding leaves; limp leaves 3–5 mm wide; and yellow thorns with yellow or purplish flowers.

Atractylis extracts have been shown in prior pharmacological investigations to possess acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory properties (Akram et al., 2018). The anti-inflammatory efficacy of the Algerian Aristata species was demonstrated in the in-vivo models examined by Bouabid et al. (2018). Furthermore, the authors demonstrate that the Aristata plant exhibited no toxicity in rats when administered at 2000 mg/kg of body weight. Furthermore, Numerous investigations on the Atractylis genus; Atractylis flava (Melakhessou et al., 2021), Atractylis gummifera (Bouabid et al., 2018, Bouabid et al., 2020) have demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic properties. These findings indicate that the plant holds potential as a therapeutic asset for managing diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Considering previous research regarding other Atractylis species, the purpose of this initial investigation into Atractylis aristata was to validate the identical biological effects attributed to this species. The primary objective is to thoroughly examine and classify novel attributes and molecules that specifically delineate the conventional applications of the target plant in the Algerian Sahara.

The analysis of the phytochemical composition derived from the examined species of the Atractylis genus originating from Algeria provides strong evidence of their abundance in triterpenoids, saponins, and flavonoids, which are the predominant components found in Atractylis species (Chabani et al. 2013, 2016, 2016; Chabani et al. 2016). Terpenoids substantially impact human health by targeting and treating inflammatory diseases (Hortelano, 2009). In contrast, saponin's hypotriglyceridemic and hypocholesterolemic effects can assist diabetic people in mitigating the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis (Elekofehinti, 2015). These laters allow us to confirm and discover these pharmacological activities in the Atractylis aristata, also characterizing the phenolic components in this species for the first time.

Our study aims to assess the value of this plant by conducting a phytochemical analysis to confirm its traditional use. Additionally, we will investigate the pharmacological attributes of its bioactive molecules to determine their potential biological activities. Finally, we will conduct an acute toxicity study to evaluate the safety of using this species in order to support its efficacy and safety.