Moroccan Endemic Artemisia herba-alba Essential Oil: GC-MS Analysis and Antibacterial and Antifungal Investigation

Abstract

In Morocco, the endemic Artemisia herba-alba is well known by its traditional uses and health benefits. The search for natural, safe, and effective antibacterial and antifungal agents from plants is in high demand due to microbial and fungal resistance to conventional synthetic antibiotics and antifungal drugs. In this study, the A. herba-alba was collected from the region of Fez-Boulemane during the periods of March, June, and September. Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from the aerial part of the plant by the hydrodistillation method. The chemical constituents were determined using GC-MS as analytical tools. The antimicrobial activities of different oils were tested using the macrodilution method. The results showed the difference in the yields between the three EOs (0.49, 1.74, 1.30% (mL/100 g)), respectively, as well as in their corresponding chemical compositions. The main constituents revealed by GC-MS are higher contents of oxygenated monoterpenes (84.7, 84.4, 81%), such as cis chrysanthenyl acetate (30, 26.7, 27.6%), β-thujone (23.2, 12.9, 15.4%), camphor (9.76, 14.3, 15.8%), chrysanthenone (2.4, 1, 14%), 1,8-cineole (1.5, 11.7, 11.8%), trans β-dihydroterpineol (7.8, 7.2, 6.9%), α-thujone (4.8, 3, 5.4%), and sesquiterpenic davanone (3.9, 1.5, 1.4%), respectively. The three EOs biological activities’ results showed significant antimicrobial effects against four bacteria tested (E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus, M. luteus), with the MIC values ranging from 0.1 to 0.03% (v/v), as well as interesting antifungal effects on both wood rot fungi against four fungi examined (G. trabeum, P. placenta, C. puteana, C. versicolor) and molds against three microorganisms tested (A. niger, P. digitatum, P. expansum), with MIC values ranging from 0.2 to 0.03% (v/v) and 0.4 to 0.03% (v/v), respectively. The June and September EO samples showed more potent activities than those collected during March. Our research findings showed quantitative variability in both EO contents and chemical compositions, which could be due to the phenological stages, climatic conditions of growth, and harvesting periods. The potent results of the antimicrobial/antifungal activities were provided by the EOs of June and September and might be correlated to the contribution and synergism effect of all oxygenated monoterpenes. These results support the possible application of A. herba-alba EOs as natural and safe antibacterial agents, and an effective alternative to synthetic drugs, enabling the prevention and treatment of certain pathogenic infections in food and health, and the preservation of wood alteration against fungi.

Seriphidium herba-alba (Asso): A comprehensive study of essential oils, extracts, and their antimicrobial properties

“…The chemical composition of the essential oil ( Table 1 ) reveals a rich tapestry of volatile compounds, with α-thujone, β-thujone, and santolina alcohol as the predominant constituents. These findings align with those of Ouguirti et al [ 19 ] and Houti et al [ 20 ], who reported similar profiles in their studies of Artemisia species, emphasizing the consistency in essential oil composition across different geographical locations.…”

Five Different Artemisia L. Species Ethanol Extracts’ Phytochemical Composition and Their Antimicrobial and Nematocide Activity

“…Presently, a substantial quantity of information on the phytochemical properties has been accumulated for the plant extracts, resulting from the application of chromatography in conjunction with mass spectrometry detection and various methods of ionization [ 68 , 69 , 70 ]. The same applies to extracts and essential oils of various species of Artemisia L. The details of their phytochemical composition, derived from both qualitative and quantitative studies and given in [ 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ], demonstrate the extensive array of bioactive compounds found in Artemisia L.…”

Phytotoxicity of Rich Oxygenated Terpenes Essential Oil of Prosopis farcta against the Weed Dactyloctenium aegyptium

“…Due to the value of these compounds, the plant's capacity for the biosynthesis of these kinds of compounds supported the plant's importance. Cubenol and its isomers were basically biosynthesized via the enzymatic reaction and rearrangement of germacrenyl cation inside the plant organs [46], while geranyl diphosphate, a pyrophosphate ester, was the starting and/or intermediate for the biosynthesis of many isoprenoids, including trans-chrysanthenyl acetate [47]. On the other side, farnesyl diphosphate was described as the main intermediate for the biosynthesis of terpenoids, including torreyol and sterols, in addition to carotenoidderived compounds [48].…”