Biological Activities and Chemical Composition of Santolina africana Jord. et Fourr. Aerial Part Essential Oil from Algeria: Occurrence of Polyacetylene Derivatives.

The chemical composition of 18 oil samples of Santolina africana isolated from aerial parts at full flowering, collected in three locations in eastern Algeria was determined by GC(RI), GC/MS and 13C-NMR analysis. The major components were: germacrene D, myrcene, spathulenol, α-bisabolol, ß-pinene, 1,8-cineole, cis-chrysanthenol, capillene, santolina alcohol, camphor, terpinen-4-ol and lyratol. The chemical composition appeared homogeneous and characterized by the occurrence of four derivatives which exhibited a conjugated alkene dialkyne moiety. They were identified for the first time in an essential oil from S. africana. The collective oil sample exhibited moderate antimicrobial and antioxidant activities whereas the anti-inflammatory activity presented a real potential. IC50 value of Santolina africana essential oil (0.065 ± 0.004 mg/mL) is 5-fold higher than IC50 value of NDGA used as positive control.

Chemical Variability of the Essential Oil of Pituranthos scoparius from Algeria.

The chemical composition of 93 oil samples from the aerial parts of Pituranthos scoparius, harvested in three regions of Algeria, was investigated by GC-FID, GC/MS and 13 C-NMR. Monoterpene hydrocarbons dominated in association with phenylpropanoids and a chemical variability was found highlighting three clusters. The composition of group I (36 samples) exhibited an atypical composition characterized by a very high contents of 6-methoxyelemicine (13.0 - 59.6%), followed by sabinene (1.1 - 43.0%) and limonene (6.6 - 39.0%), while the samples of group II (12 samples) contained a high content of limonene (9.2 - 44.0%), followed by myristicine (0.0 - 29.4%) and a lower amount of sabinene (0.8 - 2.3%). Group III (45 samples) could be divided in two subgroups. Subgroup SGIIIA was characterized by a very high content of sabinene (28.0 - 55.6%), followed by elemicine (0.0 - 29.1%), while the samples belonging to SGIIIB were characterized by the lower content of sabinene (6.2 - 35.5%) and a significant content of myristicine (1.5 - 32.4%), α-pinene (4.2 - 31.0%) and dill apiole (0.1 - 31.4%). Each harvested region was characterized by a different chemical composition.

Chemical variability of the essential oil of Juniperus phoenicea var. turbinata from Algeria.

The chemical composition of 50 samples of leaf oil isolated from Algerian Juniperus phoenicea var. turbinata L. harvested in eight locations (littoral zone and highlands) was investigated by GC-FID (in combination with retention indices), GC/MS, and (13) C-NMR analyses. The composition of the J. phoenicea var. turbinata leaf oils was dominated by monoterpenes. Hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses confirmed the chemical variability of the leaf oil of this species. Indeed, three clusters were distinguished on the basis of the α-pinene, α-terpinyl acetate, ß-phellandrene, and germacrene D contents. In most oil samples, α-pinene (30.2-76.7%) was the major compound, associated with ß-phellandrene (up to 22.5%) and α-terpinyl acetate (up to 13.4%). However, five out of the 50 samples exhibited an atypical composition characterized by the predominance of germacrene D (16.7-22.7%), α-pinene (15.8-20.4%), and α-terpinyl acetate (6.1-22.6%).

Composition and Chemical Variability of the Cone Oil from Algerian Tetraclinis articulata.

Very little is known about the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil isolated from cones of Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters (Cupressaceae). In continuation of our on-going work devoted to the valorisation of medicinal and aromatic plants from Tlemcen Province (North-Western Algeria), cones have. been harvested in eight locations (coastal township and highlands) and 40 oil samples have been isolated by hydrodistillation. Six oil samples were analyzed by a combination of chromatographic [GC(Retention indices)] and spectroscopic techniques (GC-MS, "C NMR). Then, the remaining 34 oil samples. were analyzed by [GC(RI)] and 13C NMR and the 40 compositions were submitted to statistical analysis. Essential oil yields varied substantially from sample to sample (0.17 to 1.13%, w/w). The cone oils consisted mainly of monoterpenes, with α-pinene (47.1-73.6%) and limonene (6.5-21.9%) being the main components. (E)--Caryophyllene and germacrene D were the major sesquiterpenes. Diterpenes, (Z) and (E)-biformene were identified for the first time-in T. articulata essential oil. PCA analysis of the data allowed the distinction of two groups, the second group being sub-divided into two sub-groups. Groups and sub-groups were differentiated with respect to their contents of a-pinene and limonene and, to a lesser extent, of sesquiterpenes.

Antimicrobial activity of Ammodaucus leucotrichus fruit oil from Algerian Sahara.

Three fruit oil samples of Ammodaucus leucotrichus Cosson & Durieu from Algerian Sahara were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC(RI), GC-MS and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The main compounds were perillaldehyde (87.0-87.9%) and limonene (7.4-8.2%). The antimicrobial effect of the essential oil was evaluated against bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi. High antibacterial activity was observed against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus. Enterobacter cloaceae, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella typhimurium, with MIC values between 0.5-1.0 microL/mL. Fungal strains were also sensitive to the essential oil (MIC values: 0.25-0.75 microL/mL).The most potent activity was observed against the filamentous fungi, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillusflavus (0.25-0.50 microL/mL).