Myrtus communis L. infusions: the effect of infusion time on phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities.
In traditional medicine, myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is frequently consumed as an infusion and decoction. In this study, we investigate the phenolic and volatile compositions and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of leaf infusions prepared during 3 different times. The total phenolics contents (146.74 to 179.55 mg GAE/g DM) varied significantly between infusions. Eleven phenolic compounds were identified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Phenolic acids (7.64 to 14.28 μmol/g DM) and flavonol glycosides (7.05 to 12.11 μmol/g DM) were the major phenolic fractions of infusions. Significant quantitative variation in 6 phenolic components was observed between infusions. Sixteen volatile components were identified by gas chromatography (GC) and GC mass spectrometry analyses. The main constituents were 1,8-cineole (42.58% to 51.39%), α-terpineol (9.45% to 9.72%), methyl eugenol (6.69% to 7.11%), and linalool (5.91% to 6.06%). Quantitative variations of the volatile components of the analyzed oils in relation to the infusion time were observed. The antioxidant properties of infusions, assayed through DPPH (2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, β-carotene bleaching test, chelating effect on ferrous ions, and ferric reducing power method, were considerable and varied according to the infusion time. Myrtle infusions exhibited a substantial antimicrobial activity against 6 tested bacteria.
Dept of Biology, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, National Inst of Applied Science and Technology, BP 676, 1080 Tunis Cedex, Tunisia. chok.messaoud@yahoo.fr
Chokri
C
Messaoud
Abdelmonoem
A
Laabidi
Mohamed
M
Boussaid
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000032:analysis; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000032:analysis; D000077591:Eucalyptol; D005054:Eugenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D016014:Linear Models; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D031651:Myrtus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014416:Tunisia; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D019207:beta Carotene; C016775:alpha-terpineol; C005223:methyleugenol; D005054:Eugenol; C018584:linalool; D000077591:Eucalyptol