This work aims to elucidate the chemical composition of two essential oil (EO) samples obtained from the leaves of Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) collected in two regions of Northwestern Algeria (Tlemcen and Mostaganem) and to assess their in vivo acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity. Sixty-six compounds could be identified by means of simultaneous GC-FID and GC-MS, accounting for 99.3% of total thyme oil of Mostaganem (EO.TM) and 99.0% of Tlemcen (EO.TT). In both samples, thymol was the major component, amounting to 59.5% (EO.TM) and 67.3% (EO.TT) of the total oil. EO.TT proved to be acutely toxic to mice at a dose of 4500 mg/kg p.o., whereas EO.TM did not show signs of acute toxicity, even at the highest dose tested (5000 mg/kg p.o.). Both EO samples were proven to possess anti-inflammatory activities, significantly reducing carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice (after 6 hours at a dose of 400 mg/kg p.o) at 58.4% for EO.TT and 50.4% for EO.TM, respectively. In conclusion, it could be demonstrated that EOs of T. vulgaris exhibit a considerable in vivo anti-inflammatory activity at non-toxic doses.

The essential oils (EOs) obtained by steam distillation from the leaves and the berries of Juniperus phoenicea L., harvested in northwest of Algeria were analyzed and their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities were assessed. 63, 46 and 78 volatile compounds were identified by GC-FID and GC-MS from fresh leaves, dried leaves and berries representing 98.1%, 98.3% and 96.4% of the total oil, respectively. The fresh and dried leaves oils were mainly composed of β-phellandrene (43.9% / 44.9%), α-pinene (25.1% / 20.3%), myrcene (8.5% / 8.2%), α-phellandrene (4.7% / 4.5%) p-cymene (2.7%-3.0%) and limonene (2.3%-2.5%) whereas, the berries oil was mainly composed of α-pinene (43.7%), p-cymene (5.8%), β-phellandrene (4.6%), α-terpineol (4.3%) and α-campholenal (4.0%). The study of the antimicrobial activity showed that the 3 EOs were effective only on B. cereus ATCC 10876 and C. albicans ATCC 10231. No signs of acute toxicity have been noted in mice even at the highest dose tested (5000 mg/kg p.o). The fresh leaves, dried leaves and berries oils reduced the carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice by 16.8%, 15.2% and 6.4%, respectively, after 6 hours at a dose of 400 mg/kg p.o.

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The aim of this work was the examination of biological activity of three selected racemic cis-β-aryl-δ-iodo-γ-lactones. Tested iodolactones differed in the structure of the aromatic fragment of molecule, bearing isopropyl (1), methyl (2), or no substituent (3) on the para position of the benzene ring. A broad spectrum of biological activity as antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and hemolytic activity was examined. All iodolactones showed bactericidal activity against Proteus mirabilis, and lactones 1,2 were active against Bacillus cereus. The highest cytotoxic activity towards HeLa and MCF7 cancer cell lines and NHDF normal cell line was found for lactone 1. All assessed lactones significantly disrupted antioxidative/oxidative balance of the NHDF, and the most harmful effect was determined by lactone 1. Contrary to lactone 1, lactones 2 and 3 did not induce the hemolysis of erythrocytes after 48 h of incubation. The differences in activity of iodolactones 1–3 in biological tests may be explained by their different impact on physicochemical properties of membrane as the packing order in the hydrophilic area and fluidity of hydrocarbon chains. This was dependent on the presence and type of alkyl substituent. The highest effect on the membrane organization was observed for lactone 1 due to the presence of bulky isopropyl group on the benzene ring.

This study describes the chemical composition and antibacterial activities of essential oils of Moroccan Juniperus thurifera L. var. Africana (Cupressaceae). The essential oil of dried leaves was isolated by hydrodistillation, vapohydrodistillation and microwaves. Sixty-four compounds in J. thurifera L. var. Africana oils were identified (79.9%, 92.4% and 98.4% of the oil, respectively). The most abundant compound in J. thurifera L. var. Africana oils is sabinene (38%, 36.2% and 39.4%). Antibacterial activities of J. thurifera essential oils was tested against bacteria Gram ( - ) and Gram (+). The oil is very active against all bacteria tested except Pseudomonas, which turned out to be very resistant.