| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratory of Biotechnologies and Valorization of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Zhor, 80060 Agadir, Morocco;2. Natural products, Analysis, Synthesis, UMR CNRS 8038 CiTCoM, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Paris, 75006 Paris, France;3. Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Health Sciences Campus, Azinhaga de S. Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Center, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, Polo II, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal;4. Center of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;5. La Rochelle Université, UMRi CNRS 7266 Littoral Environnement et Sociétés LIENSs, 17042 La Rochelle, France |
| Abstract: | The chemical composition and in vitro biological activities of the essential oil (EO) of Micromeria macrosiphon Coss. and M. arganietorum (J. Emb.) R. Morales, two Lamiaceae endemic to south Morocco, were investigated. GC/MS analysis resulted in the identification of 36 metabolites from the EO of M. macrosiphon, 45 from M. arganietorum. Borneol was the major metabolite in both oils and together with related derivatives such as camphor, accounted for 2/3 of the EO of M. macrosiphon, 1/3 of those of M. arganietorum. Pinene and terpinene derivatives were also present in high proportions. From a chemotaxonomic point of view, the composition of the examined samples may be related to those of other species endemic to Macaronesia. Both EOs showed significant toxicity towards liver HepG2 and melanoma B16 4A5 tumor cell lines at 100 μg/mL; however, they were also cytotoxic towards S17 normal cell lines, with a selectivity index <1. No antibacterial activity was noticed against 52 strains at 100 μg/mL. |
