Intrapopulation variability of Myrtus communis L. growing in Morocco: Chemometric investigation and antibacterial activity

Publication date: Available online 8 May 2017 Source:Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Author(s): Mouhcine Fadil, Abdellah Farah, Bouchaib Ihssane, Taoufik Haloui, Sara Lebrazi, Saâd Rachiq The essential oils chemical composition of twenty samples of Moroccan Myrtus communis L. harvested from the same site was determined by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-one compounds representing an average of 99% of the oils composition were identified. High percentages of oxygenated monoterpenes (48.8–97.2%) and monoterpene hydrocarbons (0.4–50.7%) were observed. Major compounds were α-pinene (0.4–50.3%), 1,8-cineole (8.3–64.9%), myrtenyl acetate (0–61.1%), α-terpinolene (0–20.8%), methyl eugenol (0–33.6%) and α-terpineol (0.2-18%). The results of the essential oils chemical composition were submitted to PCA in order to investigate the intra-population variability. In this way, five chemical profiles, including A: 1,8-cineole and myrtenyl acetate, α-pinene; B: α-pinene and 1,8-cineole; C: 1,8-cineole and methyl eugenol; D: myrtenyl acetate; E: 1,8-cineole, α-terpinolene, α-terminal were detected. Among detected chemical profiles, the chemotype A was the only one which corresponds to Moroccan myrtle, the other four chemotypes were not previously detected in Morocco. Besides, an important inhibitor activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was shown by the detected chemotypes. Graphical abstract
Source: Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research