Search

Medicinal and aromatic plants represent an outstanding source of green active ingredients for a broad range of real-world applications. In the present study, we investigated the insecticidal potential of the essential oils obtained from three medicinal and aromatic plants of economic importance in Algeria, Artemisia campestris, Pulicaria arabica, and Saccocalyx satureioides. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to study the essential oil chemical compositions. The three essential oils were tested against a mosquito vectoring filariasis and arboviruses, i.e., Culex quinquefasciatus, a fly pest acting also as pathogens vector, Musca domestica, and an agricultural moth pest, i.e., Spodoptera littoralis, using WHO and topical application methods, respectively. The essential oil from A. campestris, containing β-pinene (15.2%), α-pinene (11.2%), myrcene (10.3%), germacrene D (9.0%) (Z)-β-ocimene (8.1%) and γ-curcumene (6.4%), showed remarkable toxicity against C. quinquefasciatus (LC50 of 45.8 mg L−1) and moderate effects (LD50 of 99.8 μg adult−1) against M. domestica. Those from P. arabica and S. satureioides, containing epi-α-cadinol (23.9%), δ-cadinene (21.1%), α-cadinol (19.8%) and germacrene D-4-ol (8.4%), and thymol (25.6%), α-terpineol (24.6%), borneol (17.4%) and p-cymene (11.4%), respectively, were more active on S. littoralis showing LD50 values of 68.9 and 61.2 μg larva−1, respectively. Based on our results, the essential oil from A. campestris may be further considered a candidate ingredient for developing botanical larvicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosmarinus tournefortii is an aromatic evergreen shrub endemic to North Africa, including Algeria. Reports on phytochemicals of this species and related biological activities remain scarce. The essential oils (EOs) and ethanol extracts (EEs) of five populations collected in Algeria are investigated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties through different multivariate statistical methods. EOs analysis by GC and GC-MS showed that the main constituents (α-pinene, camphor, camphene and limonene) were almost comparable. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by the ferric reducing power and the inhibition of free radicals DPPH● and ABTS●+. The free radical scavenging effectiveness of EEs was about 2 times higher than the standard antioxidant (BHT). EOs exhibited weaker antioxidant activity insofar they failed to scavenge 50% radicals. The antimicrobial activity evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations towards fifteen multi-drug resistant microorganisms showed that EEs were the most active. The Gram-positive bacteria were the most susceptible. Both EEs and EOs exhibited antifungal and anti-yeast activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the antioxidant activity of fourteen essential oils (EOs) isolated from myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) collected at different regions of Algeria, seven different assays were carried out: ability for scavenging ABTS (2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), HO (hydroxyl), NO (nitric oxide) free radicals; preventing lipid peroxidation through the thiobarbituric reactive species method, for reducing ferric ions to ferrous ions and chelating activity. The antiproliferative capacity of the EOs on Caco-2 cells were also evaluated using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) method. The results showed that the essential oils were mainly constituted by α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, limonene and linalool. The EOs at different concentrations showed moderate to poor antioxidant activity. The sample Mc_Lf_06 was the single one that presented higher antioxidant activity across the four assays (prevention of lipid peroxidation, ability for scavenging the ABTS, NO and hydroxyl radicals). The EOs Mc_Lf_06 and Mc_Lf_10 showed the best antiproliferative activity but only achieving 20 % inhibition after 96 h of incubation for all concentrations tested. Intriguing the sample Mc_Lf_07 that stimulated the proliferation of Caco-2 cells, particularly at lower concentrations (0.1 and 0.2 mg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of the essential oil isolated from the aerial parts ofArtemisia campestrisfrom Algeria and its antifungal activity against 10 filamentous fungal strains were investigated. TheA. campestrisessential oil was obtained in a yield of 0.71% (v/w). The major constituents of the oil were α-pinene (18.65%), β-pinene (16.78%), β-myrcene (17.34%), and germacrene D (10.34%). Our study showed thatA. campestrisessential oil was a potent antifungal agent against some pathogenic fungal species.Fusarium graminearumwas the most sensitive strain toA. campestrisessential oil with minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal fungicidal concentration values of 1.25 µL/mL (v/v). The essential oil also exhibited a strong fungicidal activity against the tested fungi, except forPenicillium citrinum, P. viridicatum, andAspergillus niger(MFC >20 µL/mL). Our findings suggested the application ofA. campestrisessential oil as a biofungicide in order to reduce the dependence on synthetic fungicides and ensure food safety and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of nine samples of fruit oil from Pistacia lentiscus L. growing wild in Algeria was investigated by GC/FID (retention indices), GC/MS and 13C-NMR. Fruit oils were dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons. α-Pinene (37.9-51.5%) and myrcene (27.0-69.7%) were the major components. Two characteristic compositions of the fruit oil were observed with respect to the content of both compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Juniperus phoenicea from Algeria was investigated for the first time. The volatile oil was isolated by hydrodistillation in yield 0.80% and was analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS techniques. One hundred and three constituents, representing 96.0% of the oil was identified, twenty-three being reported for the first time in J. phoenicea oil. The oil was characterized by the presence of high amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons (62.2%) and by a lower percentage of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (8.8%), of which α-pinene (40.2%), α-phellandrene (14.7%) and elemol (3.9%) were the main compounds. Also the oil was characterized by the presence of three diterpenes constituents; manoyl oxide, abietadiene and cis-totarol amounting to 0.3%. A comparison with the composition of the oils of J. phoenicea (subspecies and varieties) of other countries reported in literature is discussed briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Needles of Pinus halepensis Mill. were collected from three different locations at Sidi Feradj (SF), Djelfa (Dj) and Saïda (Sd) in Algeria. Their oils isolated by hydrodistillation yielding 0.5% from SF, 0.8% from Dj and 0.9% from Sd, have been investigated for their components by means of GC and GC/MS techniques. More then 41 compounds were identified in the needle oils of Sidi Feradj (SF) and Saïda (Sd) and 39 compounds in Djelfa (Dj). The main constituents of three samples of P. halepensis leaf oil were β-caryophyllene (19.8-25.8%), followed by α-humulene (6.2%) in SF and 10.5% in Sd and aromadendrene (8.5%) in Dj, while the third constituents were aromadendrene (4.2%) in SF and α-pinene (5.2%) in Dj and 6.4% in Sd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oils obtained from two populations of Lavandula dentata L. from Algeria were examined by GC, GC/MS and 13C-NMR. The oils were rich in β-pinene (6.0-26.0%) and 1,8-cineole (0.9-36.3%). The two oils exhibited different compositions: cineole/β-pinene and β-pinene/trans-pinocarveol. Despite some variations of the contents of the main components, the plant produced oil belonging to the same chemotype throughout its life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical biodiversity of essential oils of natural populations of Deverra scoparia growing in different regions in Algeria, and spreading from of semiarid to Saharan territories, was assessed. More than 60 compounds were identified by GC and GC-MS. Both phenylpropanoids and phathalids classes of bioactive components in leaves part were exhibiting drastic variations: (0.77–59.46%) and (0.04–28.55%), respectively. More specifically, the following bioactive components reached a very high level for this plant species: myristicin "up to 58.19%", dill apiole "up to 25.52%" and (Z)-ligustilide "up to 27.5%". Seven major compounds identified for the flowers part were varying from very low to very high percentages: α -pinene (2.49–42.32%), sabinene + β -pinene (1.11–30.31%), α -phellandrene (0.99–20.63%), p -cymene (0.0–44.22%), limonene (0.0–42.99%), myristicin (0.03–58.19%) and dill apiole (0.4–25.52%). Similarly, for the stems part, larges variations of both major and minor components were also registered: α-pinene (17.97–53.25%), sabinene + β -pinene (3.44–24.99%), α -phellandrene (0.75–10.32%), limonene (1.35–59.68%), terpinen-4-ol (0.29–15.85%) and spathulenol (0.46–11.29%). Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster analysis was conducted, showing the existence of two main groups. Obtained data for volatile components in each plant part gave an insight of the existence of simultaneous clear and large biodiversity of the chemical profiles of the studied plant parts. • Chemical variability of essential oils of Deverra scoparia was assessed. • Phenylpropanoids and phathalids classes exhibited drastic variations. • Bioactive phenylpropanoids: Myristicin (up to 58.19%), dill apiole (up to 25.52%). • Bioactive phathalids: (Z)-ligustilide (up to 27.5%). • Clustering analysis showed the presence of two different groups of essential oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]