Abstract
In this study, the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oil (EO) extracts (from leaves and cones) of the Tunisian Thuja occidentalis were evaluated. The composition of the leaf EO extract was more complex than that of the cones. The major components of the leaf EO extract were α-Pinene (34.4%), cedrol (13.17%), and β-Phellandrene (8.04%), while the composition of the cone EO extract was characterized by the predominance of α-Pinene (58.55%) and 3-Carene (24.08%). All EO extracts showed much better antioxidant activity than Trolox against 2, 2′-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, but EOs extracted from leaves exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity. All EOs showed strong antibacterial and antifungal activities against nine tested foodborne microorganisms (Bacillus cereus American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 1247, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Aeromonas hydrophila EI, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Salmonella typhimurium NCTC 6017, Aspergillus flavus (foodborne isolate), and Aspergillus niger CTM 10099. The highest antimicrobial activities by disk diffusion assay were recorded for the EOs extracted from leaves, while no difference in potency was marked between leaf and cone EO extracts by the agar dilution method. The most potent antimicrobial activity was recorded among fungi. This study confirms the strong antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of EO extracts from the Tunisian T. occidentalis (from the Sidi Bou Said site), highlighting its potential as a natural preservative against foodborne pathogens, particularly against E. coli and S. typhimurium.
Highlights
IntroductionThuja is a small genus of the Cupressaceae family that has five existing species, including
Thuja is a small genus of the Cupressaceae family that has five existing species, includingThuja occidentalis [1]
Since the essential oils (EOs) composition varies based on geographical origin and edaphoclimatic conditions [8,9], we investigated the chemical composition of the EOs of the Tunisian T. occidentalis
Summary
Thuja is a small genus of the Cupressaceae family that has five existing species, including. T. occidentalis is known as American Arbor vitae or white cedar. It is indigenous to eastern North America and is grown in Europe as an ornamental tree [2]. Native Indians first identified the plant in the 16th century as a remedy for the treatment of weakness from scurvy British Herbal Medicine Association, West Yorks, UK, 1983). T. occidentalis has been used to treat bronchial catarrhal, enuresis, cystitis, psoriasis, uterine carcinomas, amenorrhea, and rheumatism [3]. Its essential oils (EOs) isolated from the leaf have been used to treat fungus infections, cancer, moles, and parasitic worms [4]
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