Composition and Chemical Variability of Myrtus communis Leaf Oil From Northwestern Algeria

Abstract

Myrtus communis L. is a shrub growing wild in most countries all around the Mediterranean Sea and myrtle leaf oil is useful in the perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. Nowadays, “chemotyped” essential oils are more and more appreciated. Myrtle oil from eastern and central-north Algeria belong to the “α-pinene-cineole” chemotype. In contrast, Moroccan myrtle oil displayed appreciable content of myrtenyl acetate. Therefore, it appeared crucial to investigate the composition of myrtle leaf oil from northwestern Algeria in order to ensure the homogeneity of the composition of Algerian myrtle leaf oil. The chemical composition of 42 oil samples of M. communis isolated from leaves collected in five locations from Tlemcen Province was investigated by gas chromatography (GC) in combination with retention indices, GC-mass spectroscopy, and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Yields ranged between 0.13% and 1.04% (w/w). The chemical composition of the oils was largely dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons, with α-pinene (24.3-59.0%) and 1,8-cineole (13.2-49.5%) being the major compounds followed by limonene (3.2-19.8%). The 42 compositions were submitted to statistical analyses. The combination of hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis allowed the distinction of two groups, the second group being subdivided into two subgroups. Groups and subgroups were differentiated with respect to their contents of α-pinene and 1,8-cineole and, to a lesser extent, of limonene. This study ensures that Algerian myrtle leaf oil belongs to the “α-pinene-cineole” chemotype which displays various biological activities. The observed homogeneity could be a positive point to join the international market of essential oils.

Unveiling the Chemical Profiling Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Algerian Myrtus communis L. Essential Oils, and Exploring Molecular Docking to Predict the Inhibitory Compounds against Cyclooxygenase-2

“…Since myrtenyl acetate was absent, our oil sample seemed to belong to the second chemotype, i.e., α-pinene/1,8 cineole, proposed by Bradesi et al [45]. Our α-pinene/1,8 cineole chemotype was vividly confirmed by a study carried out on myrtle from central northern Algeria [50] and by other studies [51,52].…”

<em>Myrtus communis </em>Leaves: Source of Bioactives, Traditional Use and their Biological Properties

“…The principal constituents in the Moroccan and coast of Montenegro EOs were 1,8-cineole (32.5-37.5%) and myrtenyl-acetate (14.8-21.1%), though myrtenyl-acetate was present in minute amounts (0.1-0.3% verses 0.8%) (21,22). The 1,8 cineole (55.09%) and α-pinene (33.14%) were predominant components of another Tunisian myrtle EO, while lacking myrtenyl acetate (23)(24)(25). Interestingly, myrtle essential oils from two locations of Liguria, Italy were rich in α-pinene (41.6% and 28.9%, respectively), while lacking myrtenyl-acetate and myrtenol (26).…”

Chemical Variability and Anti‐Inflammatory Activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Leaf Essential Oil from Algerian Sahara

“…In continuation of our on‐going work devoted to the valorization of aromatic and medicinal plants from Algeria, [37] the aim of the present study was to investigate the chemical composition of essential oils isolated from R. officinalis growing wild or cultivated in the Algerian Sahara, namely in Naâma, Béchar and Adrar provinces and to evidence an homogeneity or a chemical variability of the compositions. In addition, the anti‐inflammatory activity of four samples, chosen according to their chemical profiles, was assessed by in vitro lipoxygenase inhibition assay.…”