Phytochemical profile and biological activities of <i>Deverra tortuosa</i> (Desf.)DC.: a desert aromatic shrub widespread in Northern Region of Saudi Arabia

<p>The present study describes the chemical composition of the essential oil of different plant parts of <i>Devrra tortuosa</i>; <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i> biological activities of plant extract and essential oils. Apiol was found to be the major component of the oil (between 65.73% and 74.41%). The best antioxidant activities were observed for the oil of flowers (IC50 = 175 μg/ml). The samples of stems and roots exhibit lower antioxidant activity (IC50 = 201 μg/ml and 182 μg/ml, respectively). The values of IC50 showed that the extracts of methanol exhibit the highest antioxidants activities (IC50 = 64.8 102 μg/ml). EOs showed excellent antifungal activity against yeasts with low azole susceptibilities (i.e. <i>Malassezia</i> spp. and <i>Candida krusei</i>). The MIC values of oils varied between 2.85 mg/mL and 27 mg/mL. The obtained results also showed that the plant extracts inhibited the germination and the shoot and root growth of <i>Triticum æstivum</i> seedlings.</p

The genus <i>Artemisia</i> L. in the northern region of Saudi Arabia: essential oil variability and antibacterial activities

<p>Four species of the genus <i>Artemisia</i> L. (<i>Artemisia monosperma</i>, <i>Artemisia scoparia</i>, <i>Artemisia judaica</i> and <i>Artemisia sieberi</i>) growing in the northern region of Saudi Arabia were investigated with respect to their volatile oil contents. The yield of oil varied between 0.30 and 0.41%, % (w/w). <i>A</i>. <i>monosperma</i> showed the highest number of compounds with 30 components representing 93.78% of oil composition. However, <i>A</i>. <i>judaica</i> showed the lowest number of compounds with only 16 components representing 87.47% of essential oil. <i>A</i>. <i>scoparia</i> and <i>A</i>. <i>sieberi</i> are both composed of 17 components, representing 97.14 and 94.2% of total oil composition. <i>A</i>. <i>sieberi</i> and <i>A</i>. <i>judaica</i> were dominated by spathulenol (30.42 and 28.41%, respectively). For <i>A</i>. <i>monosperma</i>, butanoic acid (17.87%) was a major component. However, <i>A</i>. <i>scoparia</i> was a chemotype of acenaphthene. (83.23%). Essential oil of studied species showed high antibacterial activities against common human pathogens.</p