Chemical Composition and Behavioral Effects of Five Plant Essential Oils on the Green Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Essential oils (EOs) from Schinus molle, Helichrysum gymnocephalum, Cedrelopsis grevei and Melaleuca viridiflora, four aromatic and medicinal plants, are commonly used in folk medicine. EOs were characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and quantified by gas chromatography‐flame ionization detection (GC‐FID); then evaluated for their behavioral effects on adults of the green pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris ) using a Perspex four‐armed olfactometer in order to test the compatibility of their use as phytoinsecticides to control this insect pest. Our results showed that the EOs from the leaves of S. molle, M. viridiflora and C. grevei did not change aphids’ behavior. However, S. molle fruits EO seemed to be attractive while H. gymnocephalum leaves EO exhibited repellency towards aphids at a dose of 10 μl. The major compounds in S. molle fruits EO were 6‐epi‐shyobunol (16.22%) and d ‐limonene (15.35%). While, in H. gymnocephalum leaves EO, 1,8‐cineole was the main compound (47.4%). The difference in aphids’ responses to these two EOs could be attributed to the differences in their compositions. Our findings suggest that these two EOs have potential applications for the integrated pest management of A. pisum (Harris ).     

Inhibitory Activity and Chemical Characterization of Daucus carota subsp. maximus Essential Oils

The essential oils (EOs) of green seeds from Daucus carota subsp. maximus growing wild in Pantelleria Island (Sicily, Italy) were characterized. EOs were extracted by steam distillation, examined for their inhibitory properties against food‐borne Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and analyzed for the chemical composition by gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Undiluted EOs showed a large inhibition spectrum against Gram‐positive strains and also vs. Acinetobacter spp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was in the range 1.25 – 2.50 μl/ml for the most sensitive strains. The chemical analysis indicated that D. carota subsp. maximus EOs included 34 compounds (five monoterpene hydrocarbons, six oxygenated monoterpenes, 14 sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, four oxygenated sesquiterpenes, camphorene and four other compounds), accounting for 95.48% of the total oil, and that the major chemicals were carotol, β‐bisabolene, and isoelemicin.     

Chemical Composition,Antioxidant Properties, α‐Glucosidase Inhibitory,and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils from Acacia mollissima and Acacia cyclops Cultivated in Tunisia

The genus Acacia is quite large and can be found in the warm subarid and arid parts, but little is known about its chemistry, especially the volatile parts. The volatile oils from fresh flowers of A. mollissima and A. cyclops (growing in Tunisia) obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC then GC/MS. Eighteen (94.7% of the total oil composition) and 23 (97.4%) compounds were identified in these oils, respectively. (E,E)‐α‐Farnesene (51.5%) and (E)‐cinnamyl alcohol (10.7%) constituted the major compounds of the flower oil of A. mollissima, while nonadecane (29.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (15.9%) were the main constituents of the essential oil of A. cyclops. Antioxidant activity of the isolated oils was studied by varied assays, i.e., 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2‐azinobis 3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS); the isolated oils showed lowest IC₅₀ (4 – 39 μg/ml) indicating their high antioxidant activity. The α‐glucosidase inhibitor activity was also evaluated and Acacia oils were found to be able to strongly inhibit this enzyme with IC₅₀ values (81 – 89 μg/ml) very close to that of acarbose which was used as positive control. Furthermore, they were tested against five Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and one Candida species. Essential oil of A. mollissima was found to be more active than that of A. cyclops, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 0.31 mg/ml and MBC = 0.62 mg/ml).     

Chemical Composition,Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Activities of Essential Oils of Cultivated Clones of Juniperus communis and Wild Juniperus Species

Needles of seven cultivated clones (C1 – C7) of Juniperus communis at lower altitude and three wild Juniperus species (J. communis, J. recurva and J. indica) at higher altitudes were investigated comparatively for their essential oils (EOs) yields, chemical composition, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. The EOs yields varied from 0.26 to 0.56% (v/w) among samples. Sixty‐one volatile components were identified by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and quantified using gas chromatography GC (FID) representing 82.5 – 95.7% of the total oil. Monoterpene hydrocarbons (49.1 – 82.8%) dominated in all samples (α‐pinene, limonene and sabinene as major components). Principal component analysis (PCA) of GC data revealed that wild and cultivated Juniperus species are highly distinct due to variation in chemical composition. J. communis (wild species) displayed cytotoxicity against SiHa (human cervical cancer), A549 (human lung carcinoma) and A431 (human skin carcinoma) cells (66.4 ± 2.2%, 74.4 ± 1.4% and 57.4 ± 4.0%), respectively, at 200 μg/ml. EOs exhibited better antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria than against Gram‐negative bacteria with the highest zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96 (19.2 ± 0.7) by clone‐7. As per the conclusion of the findings, EOs of clone‐2, clone‐5 and clone‐7 can be suggested to the growers of lower altitude, as there is more possibility of uses of these EOs in food and medicinal preparations.     

Chemical Composition and Allelopathic Potential of Essential Oils from Citharexylum spinosum L. Grown in Tunisia

Citharexylum spinosum L. (Verbenaceae) also known as Citharexylum quadrangulare Jacq . or Citharexylum fruticosum L. is an exotic tree introduced many years ago in Tunisia, specially used as a street and park ornamental tree. Essential oils (EOs) were obtained by hydrodistillation of the different parts (roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits; drupes) collected from trees grown in the area of Monastir (Tunisia). In total, 84 compounds, representing 90.1 – 98.4% of the whole oil composition, were identified by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. The root EO was distinguished by its high content in monoterpene hydrocarbons (α‐phellandrene; 30.8%) whereas that obtained from stems was dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (cuparene; 16.4%). The leaf oil was rich in an apocarotenoid derivative (hexahydrofarnesylacetone; 26%) and an aliphatic hydrocarbon (nonadecane; 14.5%). Flowers oil was rich in esters (2‐phenylethyl benzoate; 33.5%). Finally, drupes oil was rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes (β‐eudesmol; 33.1%). Flowers oil showed a significant phytotoxic effect against lettuce seeds germination, it induces a total inhibition when tested at 1 mg/ml. Root and shoot elongation seemed to be more affected than germination. The inhibition of the shoot length varied from 3.6% to 100% and that of the root from 16.1% to 100%. The highest inhibition of 100% was detected for flower oil tested at 1 mg/ml. Our in vitro studies suggest a possible and new alternative use of C. spinosum EOs in herbicidal formulations, further experiments involving field conditions are necessary to confirm its herbicidal potential.     

Artemisia arborescens Essential Oil Composition,Enantiomeric Distribution,and Antimicrobial Activity from Different Wild Populations from the Mediterranean Area

Aerial parts of Artemisia arborescens were collected from different sites of the Mediterranean area (southwestern Algeria and southern Italy) and the chemical composition of their essential oil (EO) extracted by hydrodistillation was studied by both gas chromatography (GC) equipped with an enantioselective capillary column and GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The EOs obtained were tested against several Listeria monocytogenes strains. Using GC and GC/MS, 41 compounds were identified, accounting for 96.0 – 98.8% of the total EO. All EOs showed a similar terpene profile, which was rich in chamazulene, β‐thujone, and camphor. However, the concentration of such compounds varied among the EOs. A. arborescens EO inhibited up to 83.3% of the L. monocytogenes strains, but the inhibitory spectrum varied among the EOs, with those from Algeria showing a higher inhibition degree than the Italian EOs. Such effect likely depended on the ketone (β‐thujone + camphor) content of the EO. The differences in the EO composition support the hypothesis that A. arborescens has at least two different chemotypes: a β‐thujone and a chamazulene type. The EO inhibitory spectrum indicates the A. arborescens EO as a valuable option in the control of the food‐borne pathogens.     

In vitro Antiproliferative and Antibacterial Activities of Essential Oils from Four Species of Guatteria

The essential oils (EOs) extracted from four species of the genus Guatteria, G. australis, G. ferruginea, G. latifolia, and G. sellowiana were analyzed. A total of 24, 22, 25, and 19 constituents of the oils from four species, respectively, were identified by GC/MS. These oils showed qualitative and quantitative differences. All the oils contained the oxygenated sesquiterpenes spathulenol (11.04 – 40.29%) and caryophyllene oxide (7.74 – 40.13%) as predominant constituents. Evaluation of antiproliferative activity of the EOs showed strong selectivity (1.1 – 4.1 μg/ml) against the tumor cell line OVCAR‐03 (ovarian cancer), i.e., more active than the positive control doxorubicin (11.7 μg/ml). All EOs showed strong antibacterial activity (minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.062 – 0.25 mg/ml) against strains of Rhodococcus equi.     

Chemical Composition and Activity of Essential Oils of Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A.DC. Cultivated in Tunisia and Its Anatomical Features

This is the first study investigating the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) isolated from different tissues of Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl .) A.DC., their antimicrobial activity and the anatomical characters of the aerial organs and the fruits. The main EO components were pentadecanal and tetradecan‐1‐ol (31.9 and 16.5% in fresh leaf EO, respectively), (E)‐nerolidol and caryophyllene oxide (27.3 and 15.0% in fruit EO, respectively), linalool and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (30.9 and 24.9% in stem EO, respectively), benzyl benzoate (24.3% in flower EO). The fruit EO was more active against Candida albicans (MIC = 0.46 mg/mL) compared to the reference antibiotic (17.66 mg/mL). Furthermore, at this concentration it inhibited all the Gram‐positive bacteria. Concerning the anatomical features, it is noteworthy to mention the presence of a large cluster of calcium oxalate crystals inside some parenchymatous cells. Large ducts corresponding to non articulated laticifers were identified in the cortex of leaf, stem and fruit pericarp. The laticifers categories and their distribution are taxonomically important to discriminate this species from others acclimated in different countries. Considering the obtained results, EOs of C. macrocarpa can be a good source of antimicrobial compounds, contributing to solve the problem of microbial resistance to antibiotics.     

Chemical Diversity and Antimicrobial Activity of Salvia multicaulis Vahl Essential Oils

The chemical compositions and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils (EOs) of aerial parts of Salvia multicaulis Vahl , collected during the same week from two different Lebanese regions, were investigated. The EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger‐type apparatus and characterized by GC and GC/MS analyses. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of these EOs were determined against one Gram‐negative and two Gram‐positive bacteria, one yeast, and five dermatophytes using the broth microdilution technique. One EO was notably active against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin‐resistant S. aureus, and all of the Trichophyton species tested. Nerolidol was found to be the major compound in the active oil; nerolidol was also absent from the inactive oil. This study demonstrated that nerolidol shows antimicrobial activity and therefore significantly contributes to the antimicrobial potential of the oil. The chemical diversity of worldwide S. multicaulis EOs was analyzed, revealing that the EOs of this study belong to two different chemotypes found in the literature. The nerolidol chemotype appears to be restricted to Lebanon, and it can be used as antimicrobial agent against external bacterial and fungal infections.     

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil from Aerial Parts and Roots of Eryngium barrelieri Boiss. and Eryngium glomeratum Lam. from Tunisia

The study of chemical composition and biological activity of unexplored essential oils may open new perspectives on their potential use in facing major health concerns such as drug‐resistant infections. The present study investigates the chemical composition and antimicrobial effects of previously unstudied essential oils obtained from genus Eryngium: Eryngium glomeratum Lam . and Eryngium barrelieri Boiss . The chemical compositions of the essential oils from aerial parts and roots of both species were studied using GC and GC/MS analytical technics. The analysis led to the identification of 102 compounds totalizing 85 – 94% of all detected compounds. Essential oils were characterized by the predominance of oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The oils obtained from aerial parts were tested against 36 microbial strains by agar dilution method and showed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) in the range of 2 – 625 μg/ml. A strong antibacterial activity against multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed especially from E. glomeratum essential oil with MIC value up to 2 μg/ml. These findings give significant information about the pharmacological activity of these essential oils, which suggest their potential use to develop new remedies, or as sources of active compounds.     

Chemical Variability,Antioxidant and Antifungal Activities of Essential Oils and Hydrosol Extract of Calendula arvensis L. from Western Algeria

The chemical composition of the essential oils and hydrosol extract from aerial parts of Calendula arvensis L. was investigated using GC‐FID and GC/MS. Intra‐species variations of the chemical compositions of essential oils from 18 Algerian sample locations were investigated using statistical analysis. Chemical analysis allowed the identification of 53 compounds amounting to 92.3 – 98.5% with yields varied of 0.09 – 0.36% and the main compounds were zingiberenol 1 (8.7 – 29.8%), eremoligenol (4.2 – 12.5%), β‐curcumene (2.1 – 12.5%), zingiberenol 2 (4.6 – 19.8%) and (E,Z)‐farnesol (3.5 – 23.4%). The study of the chemical variability of essential oils allowed the discrimination of two main clusters confirming that there is a relation between the essential oil compositions and the harvest locations. Different concentrations of essential oil and hydrosol extract were prepared and their antioxidant activity were assessed using three methods (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl, Ferric‐Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay and β‐carotene). The results showed that hydrosol extract presented an interesting antioxidant activity. The in vitro antifungal activity of hydrosol extract produced the best antifungal inhibition against Penicillium expansum and Aspergillus niger, while, essential oil was inhibitory at relatively higher concentrations. Results showed that the treatments of pear fruits with essential oil and hydrosol extract presented a very interesting protective activity on disease severity of pears caused by P. expansum.     

Essential oils from wild populations of Algerian Lavandula stoechas L.: composition, chemical variability, and in vitro biological properties

In an effort to develop local productions of aromatic and medicinal plants, a comprehensive assessment of the composition and biological activities of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from the aerial flowering parts of wild growing Lavandula stoechas L. collected from eleven different locations in northern Algeria was performed. The oils were characterized by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses, and 121 compounds were identified, accounting for 69.88–91.2% of the total oil compositions. The eleven oils greatly differed in their compositions, since only 66 compounds were common to all oils. Major EO components were fenchone ( 2 ; 11.27–37.48%), camphor ( 3 , 1.94–21.8%), 1,8‐cineole ( 1 ; 0.16–8.71%), and viridiflorol ( 10 ; 2.89–7.38%). The assessed in vitro biological properties demonstrated that the DPPH‐based radical‐scavenging activities and the inhibition of the β‐carotene/linoleic acid‐based lipid oxidation differed by an eight‐fold factor between the most and the least active oils and were linked to different sets of molecules in the different EOs. The eleven EOs exhibited good antimicrobial activities against most of the 16 tested strains of bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeasts, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.16 to 11.90 mg/ml.     

Chemical Composition,Enantiomeric Analysis,AEDA Sensorial Evaluation and Antifungal Activity of the Essential Oil from the Ecuadorian Plant Lepechinia mutica Benth (Lamiaceae)

This study describes the GC‐FID, GC/MS, GC‐O, and enantioselective GC analysis of the essential oil hydrodistilled from leaves of Lepechinica mutica (Lamiaceae), collected in Ecuador. GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses allowed the characterization and quantification of 79 components, representing 97.3% of the total sample. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (38.50%) and monoterpene hydrocarbons (30.59%) were found to be the most abundant volatiles, while oxygenated sesquiterpenes (16.20%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (2.10%) were the minor components. In order to better characterize the oil aroma, the most important odorants, from the sensorial point of view, were identified by Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis (AEDA) GC‐O. They were α‐Pinene, β‐Phellandrene, and Dauca‐5,8‐diene, exhibiting the characteristic woody, herbaceus, and earthy odors, respectively. Enantioselective GC analysis of L. mutica essential oil revealed the presence of twelve couples and two enantiomerically pure chiral monoterpenoids. Their enantiomeric excesses were from a few percent units to 100%. Moreover, the essential oil exhibited moderate in vitro activity against five fungal strains, being especially effective against M. canis, which is a severe zoophilic dermatophyte causal agent of pet and human infections.     

Essential Oils Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Six Conifers Harvested in Lebanon

The chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils (EOs) of six conifers harvested in Lebanon, Abies cilicica, Cupressus sempervirens, Juniperus excelsa, Juniperus oxycedrus, Cedrus libani and Cupressus macrocarpa gold crest, were investigated. The EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger‐type apparatus and characterized by GC and GC/MS analyses. A principal components analysis based on Pearson correlation between essential oils chemical analyses was also conducted. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these essentials oils were determined against a range of bacteria and fungi responsible for cutaneous infections in human, using the broth microdilution technique. The EOs showed the most interesting bioactivity on the dermatophytes species (MIC values 32 – 64 μg/ml). Each of the major compounds of C. macrocarpa as well as an artificial reconstructed EO were tested on Trichophyton rubrum showing a contribution of the minor components to the overall activity.     

Variation in Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil of Wild Populations of Phlomis olivieri

Various species of the genus Phlomis have been reported to produce metabolites demonstrating significant pharmacological efficiency. In this study, the essential oils from twelve populations of Phlomis olivieri collected from natural habitats were investigated for their chemical components. The hydrodistillated essential oil analyzed by GC‐FID and GC/MS. Analyses revealed 27 compounds, constituting 90.52 – 98.51% of the essential oils. Results indicated that the major components of the essential oils from various populations of P. olivieri were germacrene D (26.54 – 56.41%), bicyclogermacrene (6.38 – 30.55%), β‐caryophyllene (5.32 – 24.52%) and α‐pinene (1.29 – 15.53%). Principal component analyses (PCA) was used to identify any geographical variations in essential oil composition. Notably, three groups of Iranian P. olivieri populations were determined according to the major compounds. Results of the in vitro antibacterial activity indicated that P. olivieri essential oils showed good inhibitory activities against bacteria, especially Bacillus subtilis. The results of this study gave new insights for cultivation and industrial uses of P. olivieri in Iran.     

Composition and Biological Activity of Picea pungens and Picea orientalis Seed and Cone Essential Oils

The increasing consumption of natural products lead us to discover and study new plant materials, such as conifer seeds and cones, which could be easily available from the forest industry as a waste material, for their potential uses. The chemical composition of the essential oils of Picea pungens and Picea orientalis was fully characterized by GC and GC/MS methods. Seed and cone oils of both tree species were composed mainly of monoterpene hydrocarbons, among which limonene, α‐ and β‐pinene were the major, but in different proportions in the examined conifer essential oils. The levorotary form of chiral monoterpene molecules was predominant over the dextrorotary form. The composition of oils from P. pungens seeds and cones was similar, while the hydrodistilled oils of P. orientalis seeds and cones differed from each other, mainly by a higher amount of oxygenated derivatives of monoterpenes and by other higher molar mass terpenes in seed oil. The essential oils showed mild antimicrobial action, however P. orientalis cone oil exhibited stronger antimicrobial properties against tested bacterial species than those of P. pungens. Effects of the tested cone essential oils on human skin fibroblasts and microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC‐1) were similar: in a concentration of 0 – 0.075 μl/ml the oils were rather safe for human skin fibroblasts and 0 – 0.005 μl/ml for HMEC‐1 cells. IC₅₀ value of Picea pungens oils was 0.115 μl/ml, while that of Picea orientalis was 0.105 μl/ml. The value of IC₅₀ of both oils were 0.035 μl/ml for HMEC‐1 cells. The strongest effect on cell viability had the oil from Picea orientalis cones, while on DNA synthesis the oil from Picea pungens cones.     

Essential Oils of Myrtaceae Species Growing Wild in Tunisia: Chemical Variability and Antifungal Activity Against Biscogniauxia mediterranea,the Causative Agent of Charcoal Canker

The chemical composition of five Eucalyptus species and five Myrtus communis L. populations was investigated using GC/MS and GC‐FID. For Eucalyptus essential oils, 32 compounds, representing 88.56 – 96.83% of the total oil according to species, were identified. The main compounds were 1,8‐cineole, α‐pinene, p‐cymene, γ‐gurjunene, α‐aromadendrene, and β‐phellandrene. For Myrtle essential oils, 26 compounds, representing 93.13 – 98.91% of the total oil were identified. α‐Pinene, 1,8‐cineole, linalool, and myrtenyl acetate were found to be the major compounds. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed chemical differentiation between Eucalyptus species and between Myrtle populations. Biscogniauxia mediterranea, the causative agent of charcoal canker, was identified according to its morphological and molecular characteristics. Essential oils of the investigated Eucalyptus species and Myrtle populations were tested for their antifungal capacity against this fungus. The antifungal activity varied according to the essential oil composition. Biscogniauxia mediterranea exhibited powerful resistance to some essential oils including them of Eucalyptus lehmannii and Eucalyptus sideroxylon but it was very sensitive to Eucalyptus camaldulensis oil (IC₅₀ = 3.83 mg/ml) and M. communis oil from Zaghouan (IC₅₀ = 1 mg/ml). This sensitivity was found to be correlated to some essential oil compounds such as p‐cymene, carvacrol, cuminaldehyde, and linalool.     

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils from Scabiosa arenaria Forssk. Growing Wild in Tunisia

The essential oils isolated from three organs, i.e., fruits, stems and leaves, and flowers, of the endemic North African plant Scabiosa arenaria Forssk . were screened for their chemical composition, as well as their possible antibacterial, anticandidal, and antifungal properties. According to the GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses, 61 (99.26% of the total oil composition), 79 (98.43%), and 51 compounds (99.9%) were identified in the three oils, respectively. While α‐thujone (34.39%), camphor (17.48%), and β‐thujone (15.29%) constituted the major compounds of the fruit oil, chrysanthenone (23.43%), together with camphor (12.98%) and α‐thujone (10.7%), were the main constituents of the stem and leaf oil. In the case of the flower oil, also chrysanthenone (38.52%), camphor (11.75%), and α‐thujone (9.5%) were identified as the major compounds. Furthermore, the isolated oils were tested against 16 Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, four Candida species, and nine phytopathogenic fungal strains. It was found that the oils exhibited interesting antibacterial and anticandidal activities, comparable to those of thymol, which was used as positive control, but no activity against the phytopathogenic fungal strains was observed.     

Chemical Composition,Antimicrobial Activity,and Mode of Action of Essential Oils against Paenibacillus larvae,Etiological Agent of American Foulbrood on Apis mellifera

This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of Aloysia polystachia, Acantholippia seriphioides, Schinus molle, Solidago chilensis, Lippia turbinata, Minthostachys mollis, Buddleja globosa, and Baccharis latifolia essential oils (EOs), and to evaluate their antibacterial activities and their capacity to provoke membrane disruption in Paenibacillus larvae, the bacteria that causes the American Foulbrood (AFB) disease on honey bee larvae. The relationship between the composition of the EOs and these activities on P. larvae was also analyzed. Monoterpenes were the most abundant compounds in all EOs. All EOs showed antimicrobial activity against P. larvae and disrupted the cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane of P. larvae provoking the leakage of cytoplasmic constituents (with the exception of B. latifolia EO). While, the EOs’ antimicrobial activity was correlated most strongly to the content of pulegone, carvone, (Z)‐β‐ocimene, δ‐cadinene, camphene, terpinen‐4‐ol, elemol, β‐pinene, β‐elemene, γ‐cadinene, α‐terpineol, and bornyl acetate; the volatiles that better explained the membrane disruption were carvone, limonene, cis‐carvone oxide, pentadecane, trans‐carvyl acetate, trans‐carvone oxide, trans‐limonene oxide, artemisia ketone, trans‐carveol, thymol, and γ‐terpinene (positively correlated) and biciclogermacrene, δ‐2‐carene, verbenol, α‐pinene, and α‐thujene (negatively correlated). The studied EOs are proposed as natural alternative means of control for the AFB disease.     

Chemodiversity Associated with Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Activity of Piper aduncum var. ossanum

Chemical analysis, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic effects of essential oils (EOs) from leaves of Piper aduncum var. ossanum from two localities Bauta (EO‐B) and Ceiba (EO‐C), Artemisa Province, Cuba, were determined. EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. EO‐B demonstrated higher activity against S. aureus and L. amazonensis; while a lower cytotoxicity on mammalian cells was observed. Both EOs displayed the same activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania infantum. Both EOs were inactive against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.