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AbstractEssential oil extraction from leaves of Pistacia verawas performed in order to asses its composition and follow its variability according to the leaf development. Volatile compounds were obtained by hydrodistillation followed by liquid-liquid extraction. Terpinen-4-ol (2.9–12.3 %) and α-terpineol (0.0–14.0 %) were the most abundant compounds except on 30 thJune where α-terpinolene (17.0 %) and α-pinene (14.9 %) were the main compounds. The main chemical classes were oxygenated monoterpenes and monoterpene hydrocarbons. The preponderance of terpinen-4-ol in most cases instead of α-pinene as cited in other works may characterize Tunisian samples. Furthermore, many volatile compounds identified in the EO of P. veraleaves are well-known for their biological activities, e.g. α-terpineol, borneol, limonene, α-pinene, farnesol. From a fundamental point of view, EO composition determination opens many perspectives either for bioactive molecules isolation or for the chemical ecology comprehension of these secondary metabolites.

AbstractPelargonium graveolensessential oil was extracted from dried leaves by a clevenger apparatus and the composition of this essential oil was analyzed by GC-MS. The main results showed that P. graveolensessential oil was characterized by the predominance of two compounds: citronellol and geraniol with respective amounts of 27.53 and 25.85 %. In addition to that, P. graveolensessential oil was characterized by the predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes (70.64 %) which were followed by sesquiterpenes (11.88 %), acids (1.76 %) and hydrocarbon monoterpenes (2.02 %). Other compounds were detected with an amount of 11.83 %. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of this volatile oil was assessed by DPPH test. We also tested its biological activity against some microorgnisms: Escherichia Coli(ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 29213) and Bacillus subtilis(ATCC 6633) and also a fungi: Candida albicans(ATCC 10231). According to the results of DPPH test, The essential oil of P. graveolenswas able to release free groups with a high capacity to oxidize free radicals of DPPH molecule. The antibacterial assay showed that P. graveolensessential oil was active against all the tested microorganisms with a more pronounced effect against Candida albicansand Bacillus subtilis.

AbstractThis work was carried out in order to valorize a medicinal and aromatic plant of Tunisia: Mentha aquatica. Mentha aquaticadried leaves were submitted to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus. Their essential oil (EO) composition was analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity of Mentha aquaticaEssential oil was evaluated by DPPH free radical -scavenging method. We tested also its biological activity against some microorgnisms : Escherichia ColiATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureusATCC 29213 and Bacillusand also a fungi : candida.Results showed that the most abundant volatile compound of M. aquaticaEssential oil was pulegone with a percentage of 39.36 %. It was followed by menthone accounting for 27.69 % of total volatile compounds. Furthermore, oxygenated monoterpenes accounting for 91.4 % of total volatiles constituted the prominent chemical class of this volatile oil. Respective amounts of hydrocarbon monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were of 3.51 and 5.06 %. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the M. aquaticaEssential oil was similar to that of trolox (8 μg /ml ) which is a synthetic molecule with a high antioxidant activity used as a blanck, The antibacterial assay showed that M. aquatiaEssential oil was active against StaphylococcusATCC, E. coliand Bacillusbut it doesn’t show an inhibitory effect against Candida.