Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils isolated from Algerian Juniperus phoenicea L. and Cupressus sempervirens L.

Abstract

The chemical composition of essential oils isolated from the leaves by steam-distillation of Algerian Juniperus phoenicea L. and Cupressus sempervirens L. were analyzed by GC-MS. The oils were predominantly composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons (72.9 and 75.7%), with α-pinene as major constituent (34.5 and 60.5%). β-phellandrene (22.4%) and α-Terpinyl acetate (14.7%) were the second most important constituents of the J. phoenicea oil. While cedrol (8.3%) was found to be the second most important constituent in the oil of C. sempervirens. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was evaluated against five bacteria (3 Gram-positive and 2 Gram-negative), and 3 fungi. Results showed that the oils exhibited moderate antibacterial and antifungal activities.   Key words: Juniperus phoenicea L., Cupressus sempervirens L., Cupressaceae, essential oils, GC-MS, antimicrobial activity.