title: Antioxidant and Antifungal Activity of Extracts of the Aerial Parts of Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmanns Against Four Phytopathogenic Fungi of Citrus sinensis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae family can be easily found in Algeria. These plants have been used as traditional medicines by local ethnic groups. Thymus capitatus is known in Algeria as "Zaatar" and has been commonly used as a spice, and reported to have many biological effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper focused on the assessment of the antioxidant potential and antifungal activity of essential oil and solvent extracts of T. capitatus against the growth of certain fungi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Essential oil, ethanol and hexane extracts of T. capitatus were tested for their antioxidant and antifungal activities. The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was used to determine the free radical quenching capacity. Antifungal activity was assessed using the radial growth technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DPPH free radical scavenging effect of the extracts was compared with standard antioxidant ascorbic acid and showed significant results. The ethanol extract showed high activity at the concentration of 80 g/mL, but less than the standard ascorbic acid. The essential oil was effective against all the fungi used in the experiment. The highest inhibitory effect on the growth of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Penicillium digitatum, and Fusarium solani was exhibited by the essential oil at concentrations between 0.1 and 0.5 μg/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrated that ethanol extract obtained from T. capitatus is a potential source of natural antioxidant, while the essential oil extract can be exploited as an ideal alternative to synthetic fungicides for use in the treatment of many fungal phytopathogens.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology and Natural Ecosystems Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Life and Earth Sciences and the Universe, University of Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tabti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Natural and Bioactive Substances, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria.
authors.forename: Mohammed El Amine
authors.initials: Mel A
authors.lastname: Dib
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology and Natural Ecosystems Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Life and Earth Sciences and the Universe, University of Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria.
authors.forename: Nassira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gaouar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology and Natural Ecosystems Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Life and Earth Sciences and the Universe, University of Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria.
authors.forename: Bouayad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Natural and Bioactive Substances, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria.
authors.forename: Boufeldja
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tabti
keywords: 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; Antioxidants; Citrus sinensis; Lamiaceae