Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Zygophyllum album (L.) Essential Oil from Tunisia

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti- obesity and anti-bacterial activities and the chemi cal composition of essential oil of Zygophyllum album leaves ( Zygophyllaceae) harvested from Douz (Tunisia). GC–M S analysis of essential oil of Z. album resulted in the identification of nineteen compoun ds representing 91.55% of the total oil. 2,6-Di(tert-b utyl)phenol, delta decalactone, cocolactone and carvacrol were the principal compon ents comprising 63.65% of the oil. The antioxidant activity of essential oil of Z. album was evaluated using 2,2-DiPhenyl-1- PicrylHydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power and total ant ioxidant capacity assays. The obtained results reveal that the essential oil of Z. album is endowed with potent antioxidant property. In addition, the IC 50 value of essential oil of Z. album against α - amylase was 43.17 μ g mL -1 and that against pancreatic lipase was 85.95 μ g mL -1 , suggesting powerful anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects, respectively. Moreover, the essential oil of Z. album showed a significant anti-bacterial activity espec ially against Gram (+) bacteria. This study suggests that essenti al oil of Z. album may be used as a potential natural source for anti-oxidative, anti-d iabetic and anti-microbial agents in drug and food industries. Keywords: Anti-bacterial activity, Anti-diabetic, Antioxidan t property, Anti-obesity activity, Pancreatic lipase inhibition.