title: Myrtus communis L. as source of a bioactive and safe essential oil.
abstract: In Algeria, Myrtus communis L. is distributed throughout the Tell Atlas and the coastal regions of Algiers and Constantine. The leaves are used in respiratory disorders, diarrhea and hemorrhoids. The aims of this work were to evaluate the antifungal and anti-inflammatory potential of well characterized essential oils (EO). Since EO can be applied by inhalation, dermal application and oral administration, we used several mammalian cell lines to assess safe bioactive doses. The chemical composition of two samples was investigated by GC-FID, GC-MS and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. Monoterpene derivatives are the main compounds: α-pinene (50.8 and 33.6%), 1,8-cineole (21.9 and 13.3%), linalool (2.7 and 14.8%), and linalyl acetate (0.5 and 9.5%). The antifungal evaluation revealed that the oils were more active against Cryptococcus neoformans (yeast) and Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton rubrum (dermatophytes). The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated using an in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. Assessment of cell viability was made through the MTT assay. Both oils were able to significantly inhibit NO production, without affecting cell viability, in concentrations up to 0.64 mg/mL. These promising results, disclose bioactive concentrations of Myrtle essential oils with a safety profile suggesting a potential oral and topical application or use by inhalation.
authors.affiliation: UMR 6134 SPE, Equipe Chimie et Biomasse, Université de Corse-CNRS, Route des Sanguinaires, Ajaccio, 20000, France.
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouzabata
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos Farmacêuticos/Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal.
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos Farmacêuticos/Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal; Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular e Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-295, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular e Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-295, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: UMR 6134 SPE, Equipe Chimie et Biomasse, Université de Corse-CNRS, Route des Sanguinaires, Ajaccio, 20000, France.
authors.forename: Ange
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bighelli
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos Farmacêuticos/Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal; Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular e Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-295, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavaleiro
authors.affiliation: UMR 6134 SPE, Equipe Chimie et Biomasse, Université de Corse-CNRS, Route des Sanguinaires, Ajaccio, 20000, France.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.affiliation: UMR 6134 SPE, Equipe Chimie et Biomasse, Université de Corse-CNRS, Route des Sanguinaires, Ajaccio, 20000, France.
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomi
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos Farmacêuticos/Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal; Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular e Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-295, Portugal. Electronic address: ligia@ff.uc.pt.
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000462:Algeria; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D041022:Candida tropicalis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004821:Epidermophyton / Q000187:drug effects; D000077591:Eucalyptol; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D051379:Mice; D008864:Microsporum / Q000187:drug effects; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D031651:Myrtus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C074463:linalyl acetate; C018584:linalool; C005451:alpha-pinene; D000077591:Eucalyptol
keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity; Antifungal activity; Cell viability; Chemical composition; Essential oil; Myrtus communis