Origanum Grosii Extracts As Novel Eco-Friendly Corrosion Inhibitors For Mild Steel In HCl Medium

Two green inhibitors extracted from an endemic species (Origanum grosii (Og)) using two solvents of different polarity (water and ethanol), OgW (aqueous extract) and OgE (ethanolic extract), were used for the anticorrosion of mild steel (M steel) in a 1 M HCl medium. Anticorrosive performance of OgW and OgE was assessed using standard electrochemical techniques, EIS/PDP measurements, weight loss method and SEM/EDX surface analysis. The results show that OgW achieves a maximum inhibition efficiency of 92 % and that the extract in aqueous medium (more polar) is more efficient than the extract in ethanolic medium (less polar). Both extracts act as mixed inhibitors and their corrosion process is predominantly governed by a charge transfer. Concentration and temperature effect was studied and shown that they are two antagonistic parameters for the evolution of inhibitory effectiveness of both OgW and OgE. The adsorption isotherms of the two inhibitors OgE and OgW obey to the Langmuir adsorption model. Moreover, the examination of SEM images and EDX spectra support a deposit of both extracts on the metal surface by an adsorption phenomenon. Besides, theoretical approach of the molecular structures of the major compounds M-OgW and M-OgE and inhibition efficiency was examined via DFT calculations and molecular dynamics simulations and it was consistent with the experimental findings.

Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Properties of Moroccan Lavandula dentata and Lavandula stoechas Essential Oils Against Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata

The current study describes the chemical composition and insecticidal activities of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from Lavandula dentata L. and Lavandula stoechas L. against the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a worldwide fruit pest. Gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed that L. dentata oil contained camphor (50.8%), 1,8-cineole (6.6%), β-selinene (5%), and borneol (3.2%) as major components. On the other hand, L. stoechas EO was characterized by high contents of camphor (44%), camphene (14.8%), fenchone (9.1%), and 1-10-diepi-cubenol (4.6%). The toxic impact of EOs against C. capitata was evaluated through ingestion and contact methods. All of the EOs were toxic to C. capitata, and insect mortality was dose and time-dependent. In ingestion toxicity assays, L. dentata was the most toxic oil with an LC₅₀ (lethal concentration for 50% mortality) of 6.54% for males and 10.21% for females. Topical applications revealed that all the EOs had a good insecticidal activity at 24 h. The results of this study show that L. dentata and L. stoechas EOs may reduce the risks associated with the use of synthetic insecticides and may also be considered as a potent source for the production of botanical insecticides against C. capitata.

Chemical Profiling, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Essential Oil From Englerastrum gracillimum Th. C. E. Fries Growing in Niger

In the present study, the chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Englerastrum gracillimum Th. C. E. Fries growing in Niger were investigated. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of the essential oil resulted in the identification of 42 compounds representing 97.9% of the total oil constituents. The major compounds of the essential oil were: α-humulene (30.5%), followed by cubenol (19.8%), γ-muurolene (14.0%), ( E)-β-caryophyllene (5.8%), β-gurjunene (5.2%), and curzerene (4.9%). The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was determined by using the free radical-scavenging activity (2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl: DPPH˙) and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. The essential oil showed good antioxidant potential with both methods. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against multi-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii P1483, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) -Escherichia coli Bu8566, Salmonella spp. H1548, Proteus mirabilis Bu190 , Enterobacter cloacae Bu147, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700603), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus P1123, Enterococcus faecium H3434, and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) using the agar disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The essential oil exhibited good antibacterial activity. The highest antibacterial effect was observed against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus P1123 with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.03 mg/mL and 0.06 mg/mL, respectively. These data are of scientific importance for the valorization of aromatic and medicinal plants of Niger, especially E. gracillimum. This study reports for the first time the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of this essential oil.

Antibacterial Activity of Endostemon tereticaulis (Poir.) M. Ashby Essential Oil and Ethanolic Extract Against Resistant Pathogenic Bacteria

Endostemon tereticaulis (poir.) M.Ashby is a species of the Lamiaceae family present in Niger. This plant is used in traditional medicine due to its various biological potentialities. The present study investigated the chemical composition of the essential oil and the antibacterial activity of the essential oil and ethanolic extract of Endostemon tereticaulis against resistant pathogenic bacteria. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the essential oil led to the identification of 43 compounds representing 99.55% of the total essential oil. The major components were caryophyllene oxide (15.17%) followed by α-humulene (13.96%), α-copaene (11.75%), ( E)-β-caryophyllene (8.44%), and δ-cadinene (6.78%). The antibacterial activity was tested against multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii P1483, Salmonella spp. H1548, extended-spectrum β-lactamase- Escherichia coli Bu8566, Enterobacter cloacae Bu147, Proteus mirabilis Bu190 , Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700603), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Enterococcus faecium H3434, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus P1123, and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). The antibacterial assays revealed that the essential oil was more active than the ethanolic extract against the studied bacteria with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values ranging from 0.06 to 2 mg/mL. Also, the ethanolic extract was effective against the bacteria tested with MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.12 to 3 mg/mL. This study showed that Endostemon tereticaulis essential oil is rich in bioactive compounds. Ethanolic extract and essential oil exhibited potential antibacterial activity. These results provide a scientific basis for the use of this plant in traditional medicine. The current study described for the first time the antibacterial activity of Endostemon tereticaulis.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Lavandulapedunculata subsp. atlantica (Braun-Blanq.) Romo Essential Oil and Selected Terpenoids against Resistant Bacteria Strains-Structure-Activity Relationships

The genus Lavandula is known for its different uses in traditional medicine. This study is interested in the chemical composition of Lavandulapedunculata subsp.atlantica (Braun-Blanq.) Romo as well as evaluating its antibacterial potential against multi-resistant strains. The analysis of Lavandulaatlantica essential oil (LAEO) allows the identification of 47 components representing 93.6 % of all identified. The main constituent of LAEO was camphor (50.4 %), followed by fenchone (14.1 %) and camphene (5.6 %). The antibacterial assays revealed that LAEO was active against all the studied bacteria. A preliminary study of the relationship between certain terpenoids and antibacterial activity was also carried out in order to note the compound(s) that are responsible for LAEO's antibacterial activity. This study showed that the activity of the essential oil may be due to the presence of certain minor compounds such as carvone, considering the presence of the synergistic effect between the essential oil.

Pollination effects on antioxidant content of Perilla frutescens seeds analysed by NMR spectroscopy

The effects of Perilla frutescens pollination on the content of seed antioxidants were analysed by agronomical and pollination trials, comparing seeds produced from bagged plants in 2013 (A) to prevent access to pollinating insects, and seeds from open-pollinated plants in 2013 (B) and 2015 (C). The seeds of open-pollinated plants were significantly more numerous and heavier than those of self-pollinated plants. 1H NMR seed analysis showed a higher presence of phenolic compounds in open-pollinated seeds, mainly rosmarinic acid and flavonoids, apigenin and luteolin. Flavonoids were present in the glucosylated form in seeds (A) and (C), and in the aglycone form in seeds from (B) plants. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (palmitic, linoleic and linolenic) were more abundant in seeds from self-pollinated flowers. Pollination performed almost exclusively by the honeybee notably increased the antioxidant content in perilla seeds and gave rise to a reduction in the fatty acid content.

North African Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used in Cancer Therapy

Background: Cancer is a major cause of mortality worldwide with increasing numbers by the years. In North Africa, the number of cancer patients is alarming. Also shocking is that a huge number of cancer patients only have access to traditional medicines due to several factors, e.g., economic difficulties. In fact, medicinal plants are widely used for the treatment of several pathologies, including cancer. Truthfully, herbalists and botanists in North African countries prescribe several plants for cancer treatment. Despite the popularity and the potential of medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer, scientific evidence on their anticancer effects are still scarce for most of the described plants.

Objective: Bearing in mind the lack of comprehensive and systematic studies, the aim of this review is to give an overview of studies, namely ethnobotanical surveys and experimental evidence of anticancer effects regarding medicinal plants used in North Africa for cancer therapy.

Method: The research was conducted on several popular search engines including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. The research focused primarily on English written papers published between the years 2000 and 2016.

Results: This review on plants traditionally used by herbalists in North Africa highlights that Morocco and Algeria are the countries with most surveys on the use of medicinal plants in folk medicine. Among the plethora of plants used, Nigella sativa and Trigonella foenum-graecum are the most referred ones by herbalists for the treatment of cancer. Moreover, a plethora of scientific evidence qualifies them as candidates for further drug development. Furthermore, we report on the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Conclusion: Overall, this review highlights the therapeutic potential of some medicinal plants as anticancer agents. The North African flora offers a rich source of medicinal plants for a wide array of diseases, including cancer. The elucidation of their modes of action represents an indispensable condition for the rational development of new drugs for cancer treatment. Furthermore, testing the anticancer activity in vivo and in clinical trials are warranted to explore the full therapeutic potential of North African plants for cancer therapy.

Chemical Composition and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Algerian Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil

This work aims to elucidate the chemical composition of two essential oil (EO) samples obtained from the leaves of Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) collected in two regions of Northwestern Algeria (Tlemcen and Mostaganem) and to assess their in vivo acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity. Sixty-six compounds could be identified by means of simultaneous GC-FID and GC-MS, accounting for 99.3% of total thyme oil of Mostaganem (EO.TM) and 99.0% of Tlemcen (EO.TT). In both samples, thymol was the major component, amounting to 59.5% (EO.TM) and 67.3% (EO.TT) of the total oil. EO.TT proved to be acutely toxic to mice at a dose of 4500 mg/kg p.o., whereas EO.TM did not show signs of acute toxicity, even at the highest dose tested (5000 mg/kg p.o.). Both EO samples were proven to possess anti-inflammatory activities, significantly reducing carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice (after 6 hours at a dose -of 400 mg/kg p.o) at 58.4% for EO.TT and 50.4% for EO.TM, respectively. In conclusion, it could be demonstrated that EOs of T. vulgaris exhibit a considerable in vivo anti-inflammatory activity at non-toxic doses.

Chemical Composition and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Algerian Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil

This work aims to elucidate the chemical composition of two essential oil (EO) samples obtained from the leaves of Thymus vulgaris L. ( Lamiaceae) collected in two regions of Northwestern Algeria (Tlemcen and Mostaganem) and to assess their in vivo acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity. Sixty-six compounds could be identified by means of simultaneous GC-FID and GC-MS, accounting for 99.3% of total thyme oil of Mostaganem (EO.TM) and 99.0% of Tlemcen (EO.TT). In both samples, thymol was the major component, amounting to 59.5% (EO.TM) and 67.3% (EO.TT) of the total oil. EO.TT proved to be acutely toxic to mice at a dose of 4500 mg/kg p.o., whereas EO.TM did not show signs of acute toxicity, even at the highest dose tested (5000 mg/kg p.o.). Both EO samples were proven to possess anti-inflammatory activities, significantly reducing carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice (after 6 hours at a dose of 400 mg/kg p.o) at 58.4% for EO.TT and 50.4% for EO.TM, respectively. In conclusion, it could be demonstrated that EOs of T. vulgaris exhibit a considerable in vivo anti-inflammatory activity at non-toxic doses.

Phytochemical study and biological effects of the essential oil of Fraxinus dimorpha Coss & Durieu §

The present study describes the phytochemical study, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Fraxinus dimorpha essential oil, obtained from the leaves collected in the High Atlas Mountains. Forty compounds representing 86.2% with (E)-nerolidol as a major constituent and 29 compounds corresponding to 80.3% with eugenol as main components were identified from Ait M'hamed and from Siti Fadma, respectively. The F. dimorpha essential oil presents IC50 using DPPH varying from 5.33 to 6.03 mg/mL and EC50 using FRAP varying from 0.83 to 1.21 mg/mL. The antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated for ten microorganisms showed that the oil had a moderate potential activity. Fungal strains are more sensitive to the investigated oils, with a MIC varied between 1.8 and 3.8 mg/mL.

Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Analysis of the Essential Oil of Algerian Juniperus phoenicea

The essential oils of Juniperus phoenicea L. from Algeria were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Concerning their chemical composition, 74, 61 and 72 volatile compounds were identified from fresh leaves, dried leaves and berries, representing 88.8%, 91.3% and 94.7% of the total composition, respectively. The main monoterpene in the oils of fresh leaves, dried leaves and berries was α-pinene (29.6% / 55.9% / 56.6%), accompanied by lesser amounts of the sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene (2.6% / 1.6% /1.2%) and germacrene D (2.01% / 1.7% / 1.5%), respectively. Antibacterial activity of J. phoenicea essential oils was tested against one Gram-negative and four Gram-positive bacterial strains and the yeast Candida albicans, responsible for nosocomial infections. As references, 14 antibiotics and 5 antifungal agents were evaluated. The berry essential oil was ineffective against all but two of the strains tested, whereas the essential oil of dried leaves significantly inhibited all strains but Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which turned out to be the most resistant strain overall. However, Escherichia coli was the most susceptible to the essential oils tested. The essential oil of dry leaves was highly active against Candida albicans, outclassing even the standard antifungal substances. These promising results could substantiate the use of essential oils in the treatment of hospital-acquired infections.

Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Analysis of the Essential Oil of Algerian Juniperus phoenicea

The essential oils of Juniperus phoenicea L. from Algeria were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Concerning their chemical composition, 74, 61 and 72 volatile compounds were identified from fresh leaves, dried leaves and berries, representing 88.8%, 91.3% and 94.7% of the total composition, respectively. The main monoterpene in the oils of fresh leaves, dried leaves and berries was a-pinene (29.6% / 55.9% / 56.6%), accompanied by lesser amounts of the sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene (2.6% / 1.6% /1.2%) and germacrene D (2.01% / 1.7% / 1.5%), respectively. Antibacterial activity of J. phoenicea essential oils was tested against one Gram-negative and four Gram-positive bacterial strains and the yeast Candida albicans, responsible for nosocomial infections. As references, 14 antibiotics and 5 antifungal agents were evaluated. The berry essential oil was ineffective against all but two of the strains tested, whereas the essential oil of dried leaves significantly inhibited all strains but Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which turned out to be the most resistant strain overall. However, Escherichia coli was the most susceptible to the essential oils tested. The essential oil of dry leaves was highly active against Candida albicans, outclassing even the standard antifungal substances. These promising results could substantiate the use of essential oils in the treatment of hospital-acquired infections.

Study of allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus erythrocorys L. crude extracts against germination and seedling growth of weeds and wheat

Allelopathic materials inside a tree can produce positive or negative change in the survival, growth, reproduction and behaviour of other organisms if they escape into the environment. To assess these effects, this work was carried out to evaluate the allelopathic impact of Eucalyptus erythrocorys L. on seed germination and seedling growth of two weeds: Sinapis arvensis L. and Phalaris canariensis L.; on one cultivated crop: Triticum durum L. Aqueous; and on ethanolic leaf extracts of E. erythrocorys L. The study was effected using four concentrations (10, 20, 25 and 30 μL/mL) while distilled water was used as a control. The results showed that the E. erythrocorys L. crude extracts had an inhibitory effect on seed germination and seedling growth of both studied weeds and wheat. The inhibition rate was increased by the increase in extract concentration. Only ethanolic extracts of E. erythrocorys L. induced a significant inhibition of seed germination of durum wheat. The effect of E. erythrocorys L. crude extracts was more severe on weeds than on durum wheat. These results indicate that the seedling growth, especially radicle elongation, was the more sensitive indicator to evaluate the effects of extracts than was the seed germination.

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of Aaronsohnia pubescens essential oil from Algeria

In the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Aaronsohnia pubescens (Desf.) K.Bremer & Humphries (Asteraceae), a chamomile-like medicinal plant, was studied. Using both GC-MS and GC-FID methods, 58 volatile compounds could be identified representing 96.6% of the total essential oil composition. The main compounds in the essential oil were monoterpene hydrocarbons such as (Z)-β-ocimene (53.8%), myrcene (15.2%) and α-pinene (7.7%). Moreover, the essential oil of A. pubescens was tested for its antifungal activity against seven strains of phytopathogenic fungi , i.e. Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Penicillium purpurogenum, P. jensenii, P. expansum, and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis, using the disc diffusion method. With the exception of P. jensenii, A. pubescens essential oil demonstrated a considerable antifungal activity against all tested strains. The present results confirm the traditional use of A. pubescens as a food preservative.

Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Aaronsohnia pubescens Essential Oil from Algeria

In the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Aaronsohnia pubescens (Desf.) K. Bremer & Humphries (Asteraceae), a chamomile-like medicinal plant, was studied. Using both GC-MS and GC-FID methods, 58 volatile compounds could be identified representing 96.6% of the total essential oil composition. The main compounds in the essential oil were monoterpene hydrocarbons such as ( Z)-β-ocimene (53.8%), myrcene (15.2%) and α-pinene (7.7%). Moreover, the essential oil of A. pubescens was tested for its antifungal activity against seven strains of phytopathogenic fungi, i.e. Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Penicillium purpurogenum, P. jensenii, P. expansum, and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis, using the disc diffusion method. With the exception of P. jensenii, A. pubescens essential oil demonstrated a considerable antifungal activity against all tested strains. The present results confirm the traditional use of A. pubescens as a food preservative.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Lavandula coronopifolia essential oil against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The aim of this study was to analyse the composition of the essential oil (EO) of Lavandula coronopifolia from Morocco and to evaluate its in vitro antibacterial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from clinical infections. The antimicrobial activity was assessed by a broth micro-well dilution method using multiresistant clinical isolates of 11 pathogenic bacteria: Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, Klebsiella ornithinolytica, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Providencia rettgeri, Citrobacter freundii, Hafnia alvei, Salmonella spp., Acinetobacter baumannii and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The main compounds of the oil were carvacrol (48.9%), E-caryophyllene (10.8%) and caryophyllene oxide (7.7%). The oil showed activity against all tested strains with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging between 1% and 4%. For most of the strains, the MIC value was equivalent to the minimal bactericidal concentration value, indicating a clear bactericidal effect of L. coronopifolia EO.

Quantitative analysis of some oligo-elements and heavy metals in some species of Thymus from Morocco

In order to valorise natural substances, concentrations of 20 mineral elements were evaluated in five species of Moroccan thyme. These species which belong to the Lamiaceae family are Thymus leptobotrys, Thymus broussonetii, Thymus maroccanus, Thymus pallidus and Thymus satureioïdes growing in different regions of central and southern Morocco. Samples of plants were subjected to digestion and heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The highest concentrations of calcium, iron, zinc, cobalt and chromium were registered in T. broussonetii, T. pallidus, T. leptobotrys, T. maroccanus and T. satureioïdes with respective values of 1991, 423, 73, 6 and 11 mg/kg. Furthermore, silicium and boron were analysed only for the species T. broussonetii and their respective concentrations were found to be 112 and 43 mg/kg. The ultra trace elements Si, B, Ni, Ni, As, Li, V and toxic elements Cd and Pb were also evaluated. The results were treated by the method of principal components analysis.

A blunted anxiolytic like effect of curcumin against acute lead induced anxiety in rat: involvement of serotonin

Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders sharing extreme or pathological anxiety states as the primary disturbance in mood or emotional tone, with increased fear and exaggerated acute stress responses. Medicinal plants are very variable, but some of them are used as a spice such as curcumin (Curcuma longa). Curcumin shows a wide range of pharmacological potentialities, however, little is known about its anxiolytic properties. The aim of our study was to assess the anti-anxiety potential of curcumin extract against experimental lead induced-anxiety in rats. Experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats intoxicated acutely with an intraperitoneal injection of Pb (25mg/kg B.W.) and/or concomitantly with administration of curcumin (30 mg/kg B.W.) for 3 days. Using immunohistochemistry and anxiety assessment tests (dark light box and elevated plus maze), we evaluated, respectively, the expression of serotonin (5HT) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and the anxiety state in our animals. Our results showed, for the first time, a noticeable anxiolytic effect of curcumin against lead induced anxiety in rats and this may possibly result from modulation of central neuronal monoaminergic neurotransmission, especially serotonin, which has shown a significant reduction of the immunoreactivity within the DRN.

Antibacterial, allelopathic and antioxidant activities of essential oil of Salvia officinalis L. growing wild in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco

Salvia officinalis (Common sage, Culinary sage) is an aromatic plant that is frequently used as a spice in Mediterranean cookery and in the food industry and as a traditional medicine for the treatment of several infectious diseases. The essential oils were obtained by two different methods [hydrodistillation (HD) and microwave (Mw)] from the aerial part of S. officinalis L. growing wild in Ourika-Marrakech in Morocco. Ourika is a large zone of the Atlas Mountains which is considered as a large reserve of Flora, especially medicinal and aromatic plants. The obtained oils were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and compared with that of Tunisia. Thirty-six compounds were identified from the Mw-extracted oil which accounted for 97.32% of the total oil composition. However, 33 compounds obtained by HD representing 98.67%. The major components were trans-thujone (14.10% and 29.84%), 1,8-cineole (5.10% and 16.82%), camphor (4.99% and 9.14%), viridiflorol (16.42% and 9.92%), β-caryophyllene (19.83% and 5.20%) and α-humulene (13.54% and 4.02%). Antibacterial, allelopathic (% germination in lettuce seeds and inhibited root growth obtained after treatment with S. officinalis oils) and antioxidant (IC₅₀ values 22 mg/mL) activities were studied.

Essential oil analysis and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus tournefortii from Algeria

The volatile compounds obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Rosmarinus tournefortii De Noé. growing wild in the occidental region of Algeria were analyzed by GC/MS. Thirty-six compounds were characterized representing 95.6% of the essential oil, with camphor (37.6%), 1,8-cineole (10.0%), p-cymene-7-ol (7.8%), and borneol (5.4%) as the major components. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against three pathogenic bacteria: Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; mg/mL) was determined by sub-culture on Muller Hinton agar plates. The essential oil exhibited strong antibacterial activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and was also active against Staphylococcus aureus.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Cupressus atlantica

Cupressus atlantica Gaussen, an endemic species from Morocco, is used in traditional medicine. The chemical composition of the essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the leaves was investigated by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and also evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity. Sixty-one components, representing 98.1% of the total, were detected of which fifty-seven were identified. Germacrene D (34.8%), alpha-pinene (13.6%), delta-cadinene (6.1%), alpha-phellandrene (5.5%), gamma-cadinene (5.0%), beta-caryophyllene (4.8%) and alpha-humulene (4.4%) were the predominant compounds. The oil was characterized by a relatively high amount of oxygenated monoterpenes (66.5%). The oil, screened for antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative, showed pronounced activity against all the microbes tested, except Pseudomonas, which showed resistance.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil of Cupressus atlantica

Cupressus atlantica Gaussen, an endemic species from Morocco, is used in traditional medicine. The chemical composition of the essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the leaves was investigated by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and also evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity. Sixty-one components, representing 98.1% of the total, were detected of which fifty-seven were identified. Germacrene D (34.8%), α-pinene (13.6%), δ-cadinene (6.1%), α-phellandrene (5.5%), γ-cadinene (5.0%), β -caryophyllene (4.8%) and α-humulene (4.4%) were the predominant compounds. The oil was characterized by a relatively high amount of oxygenated monoterpenes (66.5%). The oil, screened for antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative, showed pronounced activity against all the microbes tested, except Pseudomonas, which showed resistance.

GC/MS Analysis of the Essential Oil from the Oleoresin of Pistacia Atlantica Desf. subsp. Atlantica from Algeria

The oleoresin of Pistacia atlantica Desf. ssp. atlantica, growing wild in different arid and semi-arid regions of Algeria, is a popular naturally-occurring chewing gum and has been used traditionally in the treatment of peptic ulcer.

GC/MS analysis of the essential oil obtained from solvent distillation of the fresh oleoresin has led to the identification of many terpenoids: α-pinene (39.4%), β-pinene (12.9%), carvacrol (11.8%), pinocarvone (5.5%), limonene (5.1%), germacrene-D (2.4%), trans-pinocarveol (2.1%), camphenol (2%), borneol (2%), α-terpene (1.8%), p-cymene (1.7%), terpinolene (1.4%), terpinene-4-ol (1.4%), isopinocarveol (1.1%) and verbenene (1.0%). Other minor constituents were also identified.