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Abstract
The present study describes the chemical composition, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities of essential oils isolated by steam distillation from the aerial parts and roots of the Tunisian Matricaria aurea Loefl. The chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 105 components were identified, of which 1,5 bis (dicyclohexylphosphino)-pentane (44.7 %) was the main compound in leaves. These oils were subjected to screening for their possible antioxidant activities by using the ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical) methods and compared to the synthetic antioxidant Trolox. The inhibitory activity of M. aurea Loefl. essential oils against Gram-positive bacteria was significantly higher than against Gram-negative ones, Both pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans ATCC 9008 and Candida parapsilosis CECT 13009 were all resistant to the tested oils. Our results demonstrate that the essential oils of M. aurea possessing antioxidant and antimicrobial activities might be a natural potential source of preservative used in food and other allied industries.