Content analysis, nanoparticle forming potential and acaricidal effects on Tick (Hyalomma marginatum) of essential oils from two common Thymbra species

Abstract

In this study, the fatty acid, essential oil and aroma composition of Thymbra sintenisii Bornm. & Aznav. subsp. sintenisii Bornm. & Aznav (TSS) and Thymbra sintenisii Bornm. & Azn. subsp. isaurica P.H.Davis (TSI) were determined by GC-MS. The cytotoxic activity was determined with MTT assay and antioxidant activities were determined with DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC methods. Urease, acetyl, butyryl, angiotensin, α-amylase, tyrosinase, elastase, and collagenase enzyme inhibition activities of these species were also determined. The acaricidal effects of essential oils from aerial parts of TSS and TSI on ticks and the nanoparticle formation potential of their essential oils with AgNO3 were determined and compared. The main components of TSS essential oil and aroma were determined as carvacrol and o-cemen (66.78 and 35.44%, respectively), the major components of TSI essential oil and aroma were carvacrol and γ-terpinene (63.78 and 31.44%, respectively). The species exhibited remarkably high antioxidant activity, particularly in the ABTS and CUPRAC methods. It was also determined that the butyrylcholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition activities (Inhibition%: 76.12±0.83 and 74.13±0.33, respectively) of the species were quite high. Moderate antimicrobial activity against the bacteria was observed for both essential oils, with MIC values ranging from 312 to 1250 μg/mL. Moreover, essential oils of these species showed good acaricidal activity on Hyalomma marginatum (LC50: 11.82 μg/mL for TSS; LC50: 57.64 μg/mL for TSI). The high antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and acaracidal activities observed in both species are attributed to the presence of carvacrol in their essential oils. The species have potential to be used in food supplements-preservatives, pharmaceutical industry.