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