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DNA topoisomerases are important targets for cancer chemotherapy. We investigated the effects of a methanolic extract of Helichrysum pamphylicum on mammalian DNA topoisomerase I via in vitro plasmid supercoil relaxation assays. The extracts manifested a considerable inhibition of the enzyme's activity in a dose-dependent manner. We also performed a HPLC analysis to identify the flavonoid content of the H. pamphylicum extract and tested the identified flavonoids; luteolin, luteolin-4-glucoside, naringenin, helichrysinA and isoquercitrin, on DNA topoisomerase I activity. The measurement of the total antioxidant capacity of the flavonoid standards suggested that the topoisomerase inhibition might be correlated with the antioxidant capacity of the plant.

Essential oil (EO) was hydrodistillated using a Clevenger‐type apparatus and chemically determined using gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry. The analysis of the EO from the leaves of the Pistacia terebinthus has indicated that α‐pinene (19.97%), sabinene (15.43%), β‐pinene (8.57%) and terpinen‐4‐ol (9.65%) are the major compounds of the oil in concern. In the antibacterial disc diffusion assay, EO revealed a broad spectrum activity on the growth of both gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria when compared with the standard antibiotics. Likewise, in the insecticidal assay, significant activity was observed on two important pest insects, Acanthoscelides obtectus and Tribolium castaneum. A 100% mortality was found at 160 μL/L air dose for T. castaneum at 48‐h and A. obtectus at 72‐h exposure periods, respectively. Practical Applications Various parts of the Pistacia terebinthus L. belonging to the Anacardiaceae family are edible and contribute significant benefits with invaluable potentialities to the Mediterranean life. Leaves of this tree are consumed as either fresh or cooked. The biological potential of the essential oil (EO) from the leaves of P. terebinthus L. grown in the Eastern Mediterranean region has not been assessed so far. The present assays indicated that the EO of P. terebinthus contains bioactive compounds against bacteria and pest insects suggesting its potential use in food processing and preservation.