Review on health status, chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of the four species of the genus Cedrus

Abstract

This article presents a literature review on the chemical composition, antimicrobial activities of cedar oils, and the main diseases this tree is subjected to. The studies included in this review have drawn upon several databases including Scopus, Springer, ScienceDirect, Web of sciences. The keywords used in data collection were C. atlantica M, C. libani L, C. deodara L, C. brevifolia H, Red ring rot (M'jej), Cubic brown rot (Saboune). Genus Cedrus is rich in bioactive molecules such as himachalenes, atlantones and generally terpenes. These molecules have an important medicinal and cosmetic properties maintained by the inhibition and destruction of many bacteria and fungi, along with other several biological activities. Cedar suffers from pests and fungal attacks, which cause two types of fungal decay: the first one is brown cubic rot caused by Fomitopsis pinicola or Ungulina officinalis, and the red ring rot caused by Trametes pini or Phellinus chrysoloma.

Simultaneous Hydrodistillation of Healthy Cedrus atlantica Manetti and Infected by Trametes pini and Ungulina officinalis: Effect on Antibacterial Activity Utilizing a Mixture-Design Method

“…Bioactive compounds with potential as therapeutics are abundant in cedar. , In Morocco, the Atlas cedar, also known as Cedrus atlantica Manetti, covers approximately 133,000 hectares in the Middle Atlas , and is well-known for its high-quality wood used for furniture and construction. Each year, between 80,000 and 100,000 m 3 of logs are used for veneering and sawing, constituting approximately 90% of the country’s total production (HCEFLCD 2013) . Cedarwood essential oils (EOs) have also shown promising biological activities, including antioxidant, − antimicrobial, , antifungal, , antiviral, anti-inflammatory, , analgesic, , anticancer, − and insecticidal , properties.…”

“…Each year, between 80,000 and 100,000 m 3 of logs are used for veneering and sawing, constituting approximately 90% of the country’s total production (HCEFLCD 2013). 5 Cedarwood essential oils (EOs) have also shown promising biological activities, including antioxidant, 6 − 8 antimicrobial, 9 , 10 antifungal, 11 , 12 antiviral, 13 anti-inflammatory, 14 , 15 analgesic, 16 , 17 anticancer, 18 − 20 and insecticidal 4 , 21 properties. Furthermore, these EOs are used in perfumes and cosmetics due to the presence of hemachalenes.…”

In vitro biological control of Cedrus atlantica ‘s lignivorous fungi by the extracted essential oils from the infected wood

“…The effect of T. pini or P. chrysoloma , is also noticeable as it causes the M'jej disease characterised by the red ring rot. thus, although the wood's lignin degradation, it retains its relative form (Sivrikaya et al 2014; Chauiyakh, Ettahir, et al 2022). The infected parts of living trees show symptoms indicating their fungal infection such as the presence of fungus hyphae changing its colour from ochre to brown.…”

“…It is also important in regulating the gastric pH and immunomodulating activity. This plant is also used widely in the field of perfumery as it is teeming with essential oils, crude oils, and extracts of biochemical molecules that are more demanding in the cosmetics industry (Chittenden et Singh 2011; Chauiyakh, Ettahir, et al 2022). The use of this essential oil could help fight the cedarwood lignivorous fungi.…”