![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
The essential oil of the roots of Ferula lutea from Tunisia, obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by combination of GC(FID), GC-MS and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The chemical composition of root oil of this species is reported for the first time. This essential oil was characterized by a high proportion of monoterpene hydrocarbons. δ-3-Carene (72.6%) was, by far, the major component of the essential oil followed by α-pinene (5.8%), myrcene (5.1%) and α-phellandrene (4.0%). Furthermore, the isolated oil was tested for its antimicrobial activity using the disc-diffusion and the microdilution essays against six Gram-positive and five Gram-negative bacteria as well as towards eight Candida species. It was found that this oil, exhibited interesting antibacterial and anticandidal activity (MIC = 39 mg/mL against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, MIC = 78 mg/mL against Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 13311 and MIC = 156 mg/mL against Candida albicans. The anti-acetylcholinesterase and cytotoxic effects of this oil were also evaluated in this work. Results showed that this oil exhibits a high anti-acetylcholinesterase activity (IC50 = 28.56±1.87 μg/mL) and cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 26.39±3.98 μg/mL) towards the cell line HT-29.