article · Molecules
Essential oils extracted from Cedrus atlantica, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Eucalyptus camaldulensis vary in yield and chemical composition. Extraction produced the highest yield from C. ambrosioides at 2.1 percent of dry matter, followed by C. atlantica at 1.0 percent and E. camaldulensis at 0.75 percent. Chemical characterisation revealed distinct dominant compounds, including beta-himachalene in C. atlantica, alpha-terpinene and ascaridole in C. ambrosioides, and p-cymene in E. camaldulensis. In laboratory tests, eucalyptus oil demonstrated significant antioxidant activity via radical reduction, whereas the other two oils showed moderate activity. All three essential oils exhibited antibacterial performance that was similar or superior to synthetic antibiotics, depending on the oil type and concentration tested. In acute toxicity trials on rats, all three essential oils produced an LD50 of 500 milligrams per kilogram, categorising them as category four cytotoxic natural products at high doses.
Identifying plant-derived compounds that can counter bacteria provides alternatives to conventional synthetic antibiotics. Understanding both the bioactivity and the toxicity profiles of these botanical extracts is vital for determining whether they can serve as effective antimicrobials and antioxidants while remaining safe for biological use.
This work could eventually inform the development of natural antibacterial or antioxidant formulations for industrial or healthcare applications. The research represents an early laboratory stage, with in vitro efficacy and preliminary animal toxicity documented. Commercial product developers would require extensive further safety, formulation, and dosing studies given the category four cytotoxicity observed at high doses.
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The essential oils yield of Cedrus atlantica, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Eucalyptus camaldulensis was different. C. ambrosioides gave a relatively higher yield (2.1 ± 0.1%), while that of C. atlantica was low (1.0 ± 0.1%) and that of E. camaldulensis was lower (0.75 ± 0.1% of dry matter). The active ingredients of the essential oils and some of their biological effects were also determined. The characterization of their chemical compositions showed that the three essences have different chemical profiles: C. atlantica was richer in sesquiterpenes (β-Himachalene (54.21%) and γ -Himachalene (15.54%)), C. ambrosioides was very rich in monoterpene peroxides and monoterpenes (α-Terpinene (53.4%), ascaridole (17.7%) and ρ-Cymene (12.1%)) and E. camaldulensis was very rich in monoterpene compounds and monoterpenols (p-cymene (35.11%), γ-Eudesmol (11.9%), L-linalool (11.51%) and piperitone (10.28%)). The in vitro measurement of antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) reduction assay showed a significant performance of the eucalyptus oil and average performance of the other two (C. atlantica and C. ambrosioides). The in vitro bio-test for their antimicrobial effects showed that the antibacterial activity differed depending on the essential oil and the concentration used, and that their bactericidal efficacy was similar or superior to that of synthetic antibiotics. The toxicity test on rats revealed that the LD50 of the three essential oils was 500 mg/kg body weight, which classifies them as category four cytotoxic natural products at high doses.
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DOI: 10.3390/molecules28072974
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