Abstract
The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Artemisia judaica L., Artemisia herba-alba Asso. and Artemisia arborescens L. (cultivated) from Libya, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The antimicrobial properties were determined using the broth microdilution method against eight bacterial species: Bacillus cereus (clinical isolate), Micrococcus flavus (ATCC10240), Listeria monocytogenes (NCTC7973), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538), Escherichia coli (ATCC35210), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27853), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC13311), Enterobacter cloacae (human isolates) and eight fungal species: Aspergillus niger (ATCC6275), A. ochraceus (ATCC12066), A. versicolor (ATCC11730), A. fumigatus (ATCC1022), Penicillium ochrochloron (ATCC9112), P. funiculosum (ATCC10509), Trichoderma viride (IAM5061) and Candida albicans (human isolate). The major constituents of A. arborescens oil were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (47.4%). Oxygenated monoterpenes were the dominant constituents in the A. judaica and A. herba-alba oils (54.2% and 77.3%, respectively). Camphor (24.7%) and chamazulene (20.9%) were the major components in the essential oil of A. arborescens, chrysanthenone (20.8%), cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (17.6%) and cis-thujone (13.6%) dominated in the A. herba-alba oil, and the major constituents in the A. judaica oil were piperitone (30.21%) and cis-chrysanthenol (9.1%). The best antimicrobial activity was obtained for A. judaica oil and the lowest effect was noticed in A. arborescens oil. The effect of the tested oils was higher against Gram (+) than Gram (-) bacteria. All three oils showed the best antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and the lowest against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, compared to streptomycin and ampicillin. All three oils showed better antifungal activities than ketoconazole, except A. arborescens oil against Aspergillus niger.
Highlights
Artemisia L. is a large, diverse and economically important genus of the family Asteraceae (Hayat et al, 2009)
The best antimicrobial activity was obtained for A. judaica oil and the lowest effect was noticed in A. arborescens oil
A scientific study concerning the aspects of the therapeutic uses of the essential oil of A. judaica, A. arborescens and A. herba-alba from Libya, as well as their chemical composition, remains scarce and incomplete
Summary
Artemisia L. is a large, diverse and economically important genus of the family Asteraceae (Hayat et al, 2009) It has more than 500 species (the number varies depending on the authors (Bremer and Humphries, 1993; Ling, 1982; 1991a; 1991b; 1994; Oberprieler, 2001; Valles and Garnatge, 2005; Jafri and El-Gadi, 1983). In the flora of Libya, there are five species of this genus: Artemisia herba-alba Asso, A. judaica L., A. arborescens L. Artemisia herba-alba, commonly known as sheeh, is a herb or shrub distributed in north Africa (Libya), and most of Europe (Jafri and El-Gadi, 1983). A scientific study concerning the aspects of the therapeutic uses of the essential oil of A. judaica, A. arborescens and A. herba-alba from Libya, as well as their chemical composition, remains scarce and incomplete. A. herba-alba from Libya, and to assess their antimicrobial activity
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