Phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial study of essential oils of the leaves and fruits of Juniperus Phoenicea

Extracts from aromatic and medicinal plants contain a variety of phenolic compounds as well as essential oils (EOs) which are believed to have antioxidant and microorganism inhibiting activities.Essential oils of leaves and fruits of Juniperus Phoenicea collected in the region of Midelt (Morocco) were obtained by the technique of hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS).The yield of essential oil is variable depending on the part of the plant studied; it is 0.5% for leaves and 0.14% for fruits. The main compounds of the essential oil of the leaves are α- pinene, Caryophyllene and β- phellandrene while the EO of the fruits is largely dominated by α- pinene.These EOs have a marked antioxidant activity but still remains lower than that of the decocted leaves and fruits of the same plant studied, this activity measured by the DPPH method. An antibacterial activity of these EOs was also demonstrated by the aromatogram method, with a strong inhibitory activity for the fruit EO compared to that of the leaves.   

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIMICROBIAL, AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF TWO MOROCCAN THYMUS ESSENTIAL OILS

Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate chemical constituents of Thymus riatarum and Thymus blecherianus essential oils (EOs) as well as to evaluate, for the first time, their antioxidant effect and antibacterial activity against six bacterial strains responsible for nosocomial infections.Methods: The chemical composition of EOs was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry, the antibacterial capacity of the two thymus species was evaluated against six bacteria species: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Citrobacter sp. using disk diffusion method and microdilution assay. Finally, the antioxidant activity was measured by four different test systems of assay, namely free radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing/antioxidant power assays, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents.Results: A total of 15 compounds representing 99.6% of T. riatarum oil were identified with thymol (28.8%), borneol (20.0%), and α-phellandrene (13.0%) as the main constituents. Eleven components of T. blecherianus were identified representing 98.2% of the total oil composition; the most abundant constituents were as follows: Carvacrol (45.9%), bornyl acetate (20.1%), and borneol (15.7%). Strong antibacterial activity of the two EOs was identified against all bacterial strains tested. Concerning the antioxidant results, T. riatarum EO exhibited higher antioxidant activity than T. blecherianus in the three assays with an IC50 value equal to 5.75±0.06 mg/ml, which was probably due to its high content of polyphenols (28.95±0.13 mg GAE/g DW). Total flavonoid content was found equal for the two EOs.Conclusion: EO of T. riatarum and T. blecherianus from Morocco can be exploited as a natural antibacterial and antioxidant new potential sources

IMPACT OF INSTANTANEOUS CONTROLLED PRESSURE PROP (DIC) TECHNOLOGY ON EXTRACTION OF TOTAL PHENOLS OF MOROCCAN SALVIA OFFICINALIS

The main objective of this study was to intensify the extraction of total phenols from Salvia officinalis L. using instant controlled pressure drop (DIC) as a texturing pre-treatment. The effect of solvent type on Total Phenolic Content (TPC) was also studied. TPC was determined using spectrophotometric Folin-Ciocalteau method and external calibration with Gallic acid. The obtained results showed that water was the most efficient solvent to extract total phenols from Salvia officinalis L. Moreover, texturing and expansion by DIC pretreatment had a great impact on polyphenol yields and revealed greater extraction kinetics. Likewise, drying kinetics of DIC-treated sage was enhanced compared to the raw material. DIC-assisted extraction can be considered as a promising technology to use in the case of the Moroccan Salvia officinalis L. as an important Mediterranean source of natural phenols

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES AND TOTAL PHENOLIC AND FLAVONOID CONTENT VARIATIONS OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF LAURUS NOBILIS L. FROM MOROCCO

Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine antioxidant activity and total phenolic and flavonoid content of ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Laurus nobilis L.Methods: Antioxidant properties were measured using three tests: Free radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reduction of molybdate, and reducing (Fe3+/Fe2+) power. Total phenolic and flavonoid content was measured by Folin–Ciocalteu and rutin reagent, respectively.Results: The results showed that both the ethanol and water extracts had greater antioxidant activity than ethyl acetate. Aqueous extract exhibited a higher DPPH radical scavenging and reducing molybdate 545.83±5.89 mg equivalent to ascorbic acid/g dry extract. The strong antioxidant activity of water extract was probably due to its high content of phenols. Furthermore, ethanol and water extracts showed higher total flavonoid content with the values: 153.33±3.59 and 127.25±2.60 mg equivalent rutin/g dry extract, respectively.Conclusion: Our results suggested a potent and excellent antioxidant activity of L. nobilis L. extracts of Morocco. Further research has to be done to isolate the pure bioactive compound and could be considered as a potential source of biomolecules for pharmaceutical and food industry

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FROM VITEX AGNUS-CASTUS L. GROWING IN MOROCCO AND ITS IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY AGAINST CLINICAL BACTERIA RESPONSIBLE FOR NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS

Objective: The aim of the current study is to determine the chemical composition and evaluate antibacterial activity of Vitex agnus-castus L. (VAC) essential oils against some bacteria causing nosocomial infections in the neonatal and intensive care rooms at the university hospital center of Fez Morocco. Methods: The phytochemical screening of essential oils was determined using gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry analysis. The antibacterial test was evaluated against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis) using disc diffusion method. Results: Twenty-nine components were identified in the fruits' oil representing 93.1% of total oil. The major components in the fruits oil are 1,8-cineole (11.6%), α-thujene (9.3%), phyllocladene (8.2%), α-pinene (7.9%), caryophyllene (5.9%), and cubenol (5%). Furthermore, 28 components were identified in the leaf essential oil. The main component was caryophyllene (9.5%), followed by 1,8-cineole (8.7%), manoyl oxide (7.3%), eugenyl acetate (7.1%), phyllocladene (6.8%), and α-pinene (5.2%). Antibacterial activity of both oils showed a strong activity against nosocomial bacteria tested. Conclusion: Essential oils of Moroccan VAC could be exploited as natural drugs for bacteria, especially those who have acquired resistance to conventional antibiotics

Phytochemistry of the essential oil of Melissa officinalis L. growing wild in Morocco: Preventive approach against nosocomial infections

Objective: To determine the phytochemical characterization and antibacterial activity of Melissa officinalis essential oil against bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections. Methods: The phytochemical characterization of essential oil was evaluated using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis. Antibacterial activity of the oil was tested against four bacterial strains responsible for nosocomial infections: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Citrobacter koseri using disc diffusion method. Results: Thirty three components were identified representing 89.30% of the total oil composition. The yield of essential oil was 0.4% and the predominant components were citronellal (14.40%), isogeraniol (6.40%), geraniol acetate (10.20%), nerol acetate (5.10%), caryophyllene (8.10%) and β-caryophyllene oxide (11.00%). Antibacterial activity of the oil showed the higher activity against all bacterial strains tested. Conclusions: The essential oil extracted from lemon balm can be used to clean the environment of reanimation polyvalent and anaesthesia service

Chemical composition and antioxidant content of Thymus vulgaris honey and Origanum vulgare essential oil; their effect on carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity

Aim: The study investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant content, and antioxidant activity of Thymus vulgaris honey (TVH) and Origanum vulgare essential oil (OVEO) and their mixture effect on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxicity. Materials and Methods: The study conducted physicochemical characterization and chemical analysis of TVH and OVEO with the use of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). The antioxidant activity of TVH and OVEO was done with the use of 1,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The study used nine groups of rats to investigate the effect of TVH, OVEO, and a mixture of TVH and OVEO (HEM) on CCl4-induced toxicity. Intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (1 mL/100 g) was used to induce toxicity. The doses of TVH and OVEO were 1 mg/kg.b.wt, and 50 mg/kg.b.wt, respectively. HEM contains TVH (1 mg/kg.b.wt) and OVEO (50 mg/kg.b.wt). Results: TVH has a high content of phenols, flavonoids, and flavanols. HPLC analysis showed that TVH contains, for the 1st time, epicatechin gallate, and at a high concentration. OVEO includes a high percentage of carvacrol and thymol. With the use of DPPH, OVEO was more potent than TVH. CCl4 caused significant liver and kidney damage and lipid disorders, which were alleviated by HVT, OVEO, and HEM. HVT was more potent than OVEO (p<0.05), and HEM was more potent than HVT and OVEO (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study identified high content of epicatechin gallate for the 1st time in TVH, and OVEO contains a high percentage of thymol and carvacrol. Epicatechin gallate might be useful as a marker for TVH. Mixing OVEO and TVH significantly potentiated their protection against CCl4-induced liver and kidney toxicity

Antibacterial activity of cinnamon essential oils and their synergistic potential with antibiotics

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) essential oil (EO) alone and in combination with some classical antibiotics against three multidrug-resistant bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to search a possible synergy. The antibacterial activity of all tested compounds was determined by agar disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays. The checkerboard method was used to quantify the efficacy of cinnamon EO in combination with these antibiotics. Fractional inhibitory concentrations were calculated and interpreted as synergy, addition, indifferent, or antagonism. A synergistic interaction was shown against S. aureus with the combination cinnamon EO and ampicillin or chloramphenicol and against E. coli when cinnamon EO was combined with chloramphenicol. However, the combination of cinnamon oil and streptomycin displayed additive effects against all bacteria stains. The combinations of cinnamon EO and antibiotics can be used as an alternative therapeutic application, which can decrease the minimum effective dose of the drugs, thus reducing their possible adverse effects and the costs of treatment

Impact of Water Stress and Temperature on Metabolites and Essential Oil of Rosmarinus officinalis (Phytochemical Screening, Extraction, and Gas Chromatography)

Currently, climate change is disrupting life on Earth by causing imbalances in the biosphere. This work aimed to evaluate the impact of climate change on the content of primary and secondary metabolites and the yield of essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis. Thus, the results of the conducted experiment show that the content of primary metabolites decreased with increasing temperature and decreasing precipitation along the experiment (proteins from 7.61% to 7.14%, carbohydrates from 6.92% to 5.64%, fats from 1.48% to 1.29% and dietary fiber from 4.96% to 4.22% and mineral composition: Ca from 7.67% to 5.98%, Mg from 8.61% to 7.01%, Fe from 7.53% to 7.21% and Mn from 6.85% to 3.97%), and the content of secondary metabolites increased in the second year when increasing the temperature by 5C° and water stress by 50% (coumarin from 6.59% to 10.99%, saponins from 7.15% to 8.46%, tannin from 3.92% to 5.95%, alkaloids from 6.69% to 15.62% and flavonoid from 8.02% to 15.75%), but in the fourth year when the temperature continued to increase and water stress was 75% the content of secondary metabolites decreased (coumarin from 10.99% to 8.27%, saponins from 8.46% to 7.87%, tannin from 5.95% to 4.85%, alkaloids from 15.62% to 10.68% and flavonoid from 15.75% to 11.36%) and the same results were obtained for the yield of essential oil which increased in the second year and decreased in the fourth year. This GC analysis of the three essential oil samples shows that the majority of compounds in the three essential oils studied are cineole (S1:45.98%, S2:55.36%, S3:43.08%) followed by camphor (S1:17.44%, S2:21.44%, S3:21.56%) and Alpha-pinene (S1:9.30%, S2:8.34%, S3: 9.17%) and other compounds in low percentage

Impact of Water Stress and Temperature on Metabolites and Essential Oil of Rosmarinus officinalis (Phytochemical Screening, Extraction, and Gas Chromatography)

Currently, climate change is disrupting life on Earth by causing imbalances in the biosphere. This work aimed to evaluate the impact of climate change on the content of primary and secondary metabolites and the yield of essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis. Thus, the results of the conducted experiment show that the content of primary metabolites decreased with increasing temperature and decreasing precipitation along the experiment(proteins from 7.61% to 7.14%, carbohydrates from 6.92% to 5.64%, fats from 1.48% to 1.29% and dietary fiber from 4.96% to 4.22% and mineral composition: Ca from 7.67% to 5.98%, Mg from 8.61% to 7.01%, Fe from 7.53% to 7.21% and Mn from 6.85% to 3.97%), and the content of secondary metabolites increased in the second year when increasing the temperature by 5 °C and water stress by 50% (coumarin from 6.59% to 10.99%, saponins from 7.15% to 8.46%, tannin from 3.92% to 5.95%, alkaloids from 6.69% to 15.62% and flavonoid from 8.02% to 15.75%),but in the fourth year when the temperature continued to increase and water stress was 75% the content of secondary metabolites decreased (coumarin from 10.99% to 8.27%, saponins from 8.46% to 7.87%, tannin from 5.95% to 4.85%, alkaloids from 15.62% to 10.68% and flavonoid from 15.75% to 11.36%)and the same results were obtained for the yield of essential oil which increased in the second year and decreased in the fourth year. This GC analysis of the three essential oil samples shows that the majority of compounds in the three essential oils studied are cineole (S1:45.98%, S2:55.36%, S3:43.08%) followed by camphor (S1:17.44%, S2:21.44%, S3:21.56%) and Alpha-pinene (S1:9.30%, S2:8.34%, S3: 9.17%) and other compounds in low percentage