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Hydrodistilled volatile oil obtained from the aerial parts of Cymbopogon schoenanthus cultivated near Illizi, Algeria, was analyzed by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Gas Chromatography -Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). More than twenty compounds were identified, representing 94.636% of the total oil. The major constituents of essential oil were piperitone (63.35%), β-eudesmol (9.305%) and elemol (6.915%). Isolated essential oil was tested for radical-scavenging ability using the stable 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, the 2,2'-azino-bis (ABTS) radical and for reducing power ability with a test based on the reduction of ferric cations (FRAP). In all tests, oil did not show a prominent antioxidant activity. The screening of antimicrobial activity of oil was individually evaluated against representatives of gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and fungi, using the agar diffusion method. All tested microorganisms were inhibited by the essential oil of C. schoenanthus.

Study was conducted from July, 2011 to March, 2012 to explore and enumerate the medicinal uses of some plants in folkloric medicine of Hoggar (Algerian Sahara). Semi-structured questionnaires were used to conduct interviews with traditional healers, herb sellers and other knowledgeable individuals on use of medicinal plants. The informants (100) consist of 63% females and 37% males of which 6% were traditional healers, 6% herb sellers, and 7% tourist guides while the others were knowledgeable individuals on medicinal plant utilization. A total of 31 plant genera belonging to 15 different families were recorded where Lamiaceae 19 (35%), Astéraceae 16 (12%), and Zygophylaceae 12 (90%) were the important families. This study provides preliminary data for further phytochemical investigation of wild plants with therapeutic potentials. Little data presented on the common usage of plants in Algeria Sahara, not only those elements of credibility to be attributed to the plants cited, also illustrated some endemic interesting plants were traditionally used for curing various health disorders in Tamanrasset (Hoggar).

This study aims to evaluate the chemical composition and biological effects of an endemic Algerian species Myrtus nivellei belonging to the Myrtaceae family. The aerial parts of the plant were submitted to hydrodistillation and analysed with gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This oil was yielded 0,75% (w/w). The GC-MS revealed that 1,8 cineole is the most abundant component (53,44%) while other compounds were present in high contents: 2,2,6,7-tetramethyl-10-oxatricyclo [4.3.0.1(1,7)]- decan-5-one (11,73%), trans ocimene (7,54%), linalyl propirionate (6,81%) and lavandulyl acetate (5,24%). In addition ethanolic extract of studied plant was prepared. Total phenol, tannin, flavonoid, and condensed tannin?s contents were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride and vanillin colorimetric methods, respectively. Three tests were used for the investigation of antioxidant activity of both extract and oil. Strong antioxidant activity was shown mainly by crude extract. Antibacterial screening was evaluated against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Ethanolic extract and oil were active especially against Staphylococcus aureus.