Chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil of (Tunisian) Chrysanthemum trifurcatum (Desf.) Batt. and Trab. flowerheads

The chemical composition of essential oil isolated from the flowerheads of Chrysanthemum trifurcatum (Desf.) Batt. and Trab. var. macrocephalum (viv.) Beg. (Asteraceae) by hydrodistillation was analysed by GC and GC/MS. A total of 56 compounds representing 97.48% of the oil were identified: limonene (20.89%), γ-terpinene (19.13%), 1,8-cineole (10.64%), β-pinene (8.77%), α-pinene (5.32%), 2-hexenal (4.85%), 4-terpenyl acetate (3.42%), β-myrcene (2.31%), germacrene-B (2.01%), β-spathulenol (1.62%), longifolene (1.39%), α-cadinol (1.39%), α-thujene (1.23%) and β-bourbobene (1.06%) were found to be the major components. Essential oil of flowerheads of C. trifurcatum was tested for antibacterial activity against eight strains, using a microdilution method, and for cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1 using a neutral red incorporation method. The oil showed a great potential of antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis, in the inhibition range of 64–66% and IC50 ranging from 62.5 to 125 μg/ml. On Vero cells, the CC50 of the oil was 735.9 μg/ml and it did not exhibit a significant antiviral activity.

RésuméLa composition chimique de l'huile essentielle isolée à partir des capitules floraux de Chrysanthemum trifurcatum (Desf.) Batt. et Trab. var. macrocephalum (viv.) Beg. (Asteraceae) par hydrodistillation est analysée par GC et GC/MS. Un total de 56 composés représentant 97,48% de l'huile ont été identifiés : limonene (20,89%), γ-terpinene (19,13%), 1,8-cineole (10,64%), β-pinene (8,77%), α-pinene (5,32%), 2-hexenal (4,85%), 4-terpenyl acetate (3,42%), β-myrcene (2,31%), germacrene-B (2,01%), β-spathulenol (1,62%), longifolene (1,39%), α-cadinol (1,39%), α-thujene (1,23%) et β-bourbobene (1,06%) sont les composés majeurs. L'huile essentielle des capitules floraux de C. trifurcatum a été testée pour son activité antibactérienne contre huit souches en utilisant la méthode de dilution, pour sa cytotoxicité et son activité antivirale contre le virus de l'Herpes simplex de type 1 en utilisant la méthode d'incorporation du rouge neutre. L'huile a montré un important effet antibactérien vis-à-vis de Staphylococcus epidermidis et de Bacillus subtilis, avec un pourcentage d'inhibition de 64–66% et une IC50 variant de 62,5 à 125 μg/ml. La CC50 de l'huile vis-à-vis des cellules Vero est de 735,9 μg/ml, et son activité antivirale est non significative.