Chemical Profile and Bioactivity of the Essential Oil of Teucrium Takoumitense: An Endemic Lamiaceae from Southeast Morocco

Abstract

The Teucrium genus is an important source of essential oil-bearing plants. The essential oils of this genus are endowed with important phytochemical diversity, exert widespread biological properties, and have several uses in traditional medicine. Teucrium takoumitense is an endemic aromatic and medicinal plant, grown in a very limited area in southeastern Morocco. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published report on the phytochemical or biological studies of Teucrium takoumitense essential oil (EO) harvested from the Errachidia region in Southeast Morocco. GC/MS analysis, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial tests on the EO of this plant were carried out in this study. The results of GC/MS analysis showed that β-ocimene (10.12%), δ-bisabolene (8.35%), linalool (8.16%), β-eudesmol (8.05%), and δ-cadinene (7.89%) are the major compounds in the EO. Important antioxidant activity (IC50 DPPH = 2.4 mg/mL, IC50 ABTS = 1.58 mg/mL, IC50 FRAP = 0.71 mg/mL, and TAC value = 230.72 AAE mg/g EO) and potent anti-inflammatory effect evaluated by phenol induced inflammation in rat ears were induced by the volatile oil. Moreover, the volatile oil induced antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. In conclusion, Teucrium takoumitense EO was found to be rich in volatile compounds and exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. More studies are recommended to be evaluated on the extracts of this plant and conservation interventions need to be carried out to maintain its sustainability.