ABSTRACT
Thymus munbyanus subsp. coloratus (Lamiaceae) is a small shrub endemic to Algeria and Morocco where is found in lawns, rockeries and mountainous regions. From a phytochemical point of view this taxon has never been characterized. In this work we have analysed the chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained from inflorescences and vegetative parts by GC/MS. A new chemotype, i.e. borneol-chemotype, was characterized for the first time in the species. Furthermore, we assessed the biological activities of essential oils, namely the antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity on tumor cells that were evaluated by the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, disc diffusion, and MTT methods, respectively. Biological assays highlighted a moderate inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans (inhibition zone diameter in the range 9 - 10 mm), and noteworthy cytotoxicity on A375 human melanoma cells (IC50 of 46.95 µg/ml).
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry , Lamiaceae/chemistry , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Oils, Volatile/pharmacology , Thymus Plant/chemistry , Algeria , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Antioxidants/chemistry , Candida albicans/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Lamiaceae/metabolism , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Oils, Volatile/analysis , Plant Components, Aerial/chemistry , Plant Components, Aerial/metabolism , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Thymus Plant/metabolismABSTRACT
Rosmarinus eriocalyx is an aromatic evergreen bush endemic to Algeria where it is used as a condiment to flavour soups and meat and as a traditional remedy. In the present work we have analyzed for the first time the phenolic composition of polar extracts obtained from stems, leaves and flowers of R. eriocalyx by HPLC, and determined the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, ORAC and agar disc diffusion methods, respectively. Results showed that ethanolic extracts of leaves and flowers are a rich source of phenolic compounds, mainly rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid and carnosol that are the main responsible for the noteworthy antioxidant activity observed in the assays. This study showed that R. eriocalyx might be a spice to be included in the European food additive list and used as a preservative agent besides R. officinalis.
