Abstract:

To evaluate the antioxidant activity of fourteen essential oils (EOs) isolated from myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) collected at different regions of Algeria, seven different assays were carried out: ability for scavenging ABTS (2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), HO (hydroxyl), NO (nitric oxide) free radicals; preventing lipid peroxidation through the thiobarbituric reactive species method, for reducing ferric ions to ferrous ions and chelating activity. The antiproliferative capacity of the EOs on Caco-2 cells were also evaluated using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) method. The results showed that the essential oils were mainly constituted by α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, limonene and linalool. The EOs at different concentrations showed moderate to poor antioxidant activity. The sample Mc_Lf_06 was the single one that presented higher antioxidant activity across the four assays (prevention of lipid peroxidation, ability for scavenging the ABTS, NO and hydroxyl radicals). The EOs Mc_Lf_06 and Mc_Lf_10 showed the best antiproliferative activity but only achieving 20 % inhibition after 96 h of incubation for all concentrations tested. Intriguing the sample Mc_Lf_07 that stimulated the proliferation of Caco-2 cells, particularly at lower concentrations (0.1 and 0.2 mg/mL).