The Influence of Organs on Biochemical Properties of Tunisian <i>Thuja occidentalis</i> Essential Oils
Sana Bellili,
Chedia Aouadhi,
Wissal Dhifi,
Hanene Ghazghazi,
Chaima Jlassi,
Carmen Sadaka,
Marc El Beyrouthy,
Abderrazak Maaroufi,
Ameur Cherif,
Wissem Mnif
Affiliations
Sana Bellili
LR11-ES31 Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorisation of Bio-GeoRessources, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, BiotechPole of SidiThabet, University of Manouba, Ariana 2020, Tunisia
Chedia Aouadhi
Laboratory of Epidemiology and Veterinary Microbiology, Bacteriology and Development Biotechnology Groups, Pasteur Institute of Tunisia, University of Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Wissal Dhifi
LR17-ES03 Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, Ariana 2020, Tunisia
Hanene Ghazghazi
Laboratory of Management and Valorization of Forest Resources, National Research Institute of Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (INRGREF), Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Chaima Jlassi
LR11-ES31 Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorisation of Bio-GeoRessources, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, BiotechPole of SidiThabet, University of Manouba, Ariana 2020, Tunisia
Carmen Sadaka
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigboejlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Marc El Beyrouthy
Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, P.O. Box 446 Jounieh, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon
Abderrazak Maaroufi
Laboratory of Epidemiology and Veterinary Microbiology, Bacteriology and Development Biotechnology Groups, Pasteur Institute of Tunisia, University of Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Ameur Cherif
LR11-ES31 Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorisation of Bio-GeoRessources, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, BiotechPole of SidiThabet, University of Manouba, Ariana 2020, Tunisia
Wissem Mnif
LR11-ES31 Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorisation of Bio-GeoRessources, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, BiotechPole of SidiThabet, University of Manouba, Ariana 2020, Tunisia
In this study, the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oil (EO) extracts (from leaves and cones) of the Tunisian Thuja occidentalis were evaluated. The composition of the leaf EO extract was more complex than that of the cones. The major components of the leaf EO extract were α-Pinene (34.4%), cedrol (13.17%), and β-Phellandrene (8.04%), while the composition of the cone EO extract was characterized by the predominance of α-Pinene (58.55%) and 3-Carene (24.08%). All EO extracts showed much better antioxidant activity than Trolox against 2, 2′-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, but EOs extracted from leaves exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity. All EOs showed strong antibacterial and antifungal activities against nine tested foodborne microorganisms (Bacillus cereus American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 1247, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Aeromonas hydrophila EI, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Salmonella typhimurium NCTC 6017, Aspergillus flavus (foodborne isolate), and Aspergillus niger CTM 10099. The highest antimicrobial activities by disk diffusion assay were recorded for the EOs extracted from leaves, while no difference in potency was marked between leaf and cone EO extracts by the agar dilution method. The most potent antimicrobial activity was recorded among fungi. This study confirms the strong antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of EO extracts from the Tunisian T. occidentalis (from the Sidi Bou Said site), highlighting its potential as a natural preservative against foodborne pathogens, particularly against E. coli and S. typhimurium.
