The Teucrium genus is an important source of essential oil-bearing plants. The essential oils of this genus are endowed with important phytochemical diversity, exert widespread biological properties, and have several uses in traditional medicine. Teucrium takoumitense is an endemic aromatic and medicinal plant, grown in a very limited area in southeastern Morocco. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published report on the phytochemical or biological studies of Teucrium takoumitense essential oil (EO) harvested from the Errachidia region in Southeast Morocco. GC/MS analysis, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial tests on the EO of this plant were carried out in this study. The results of GC/MS analysis showed that β-ocimene (10.12%), δ-bisabolene (8.35%), linalool (8.16%), β-eudesmol (8.05%), and δ-cadinene (7.89%) are the major compounds in the EO. Important antioxidant activity (IC50 DPPH = 2.4 mg/mL, IC50 ABTS = 1.58 mg/mL, IC50 FRAP = 0.71 mg/mL, and TAC value = 230.72 AAE mg/g EO) and potent anti-inflammatory effect evaluated by phenol induced inflammation in rat ears were induced by the volatile oil. Moreover, the volatile oil induced antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. In conclusion, Teucrium takoumitense EO was found to be rich in volatile compounds and exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. More studies are recommended to be evaluated on the extracts of this plant and conservation interventions need to be carried out to maintain its sustainability.
Thyme species produce a wide variety of phenolic compounds including tannins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Thymus atlanticus (T. atlanticus) and Thymus willdenowii (T. willdenowii) are important thyme species in the southeast of Morocco, with numerous biological properties. The polyphenolic extracts of these two thyme species were obtained using ethanol through Soxhlet apparatus. Antioxidant (DPPH, FRAP, and TAC methods), antihemolytic (2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) induced hemolysis test), hypolipidemic (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity inhibition test), and anti-inflammatory (protein denaturation inhibition) effects of extracts were carried out using in vitro methods. The results showed that the polyphenolic extracts of these two species revealed important amounts of phenolic compounds. The contents of flavonoids were significant in the two species, while the contents of tannins and anthocyanin were very low. T. atlanticus showed an important antioxidant activity and a considerable antihemolytic effect in AAPH-induced hemolysis test (IC50 = 0.29 mg/mL), while T. willdenowii showed an important anti-inflammatory activity in heat-induced protein denaturation test (IC50 = 1.61 mg/mL). Moreover, both extracts at a dose of 20 µg/mL showed an important in vitro hypolipidemic activity by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase activity (T. willdenowii: 51.16 %; T. atlanticus: 62.83 %). In conclusion, T. willdenowii and T. atlanticus extracts have considerable antioxidant, antihemolytic, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effects. The richness of these species in polyphenols gives them a large specter of biological properties, making them a valuable source of natural bioactive compounds that could prevent or treat various diseases.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.