In vitro antiradical, antidermatophyte and anti-inflammatory activities of essential oils of two aromatic plants, Apium graveolens (Apiaceae) and Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae)

Marguerite Simo, University of Youandé I, Cameroon
Pierre Michel Jazet, University of Douala, Cameroon
Fabrice Fekam, Universitz of Youandé I, Cameroon

Investigations were conducted to determine the chemical composition and antiradical, antidermatophyte and anti-inflammatory activities of essential oil extracted from the fresh leaves of Apium graveolens and Thymus vulgaris (leaves and twigs) from Cameroon. 

Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger type apparatus and the chemical composition determined by gas chromatography (CG) and gas chromatopgraphy coupled to mass spectrometry (CG/MS). The antiradical activity was evaluated using the DPPH Scavenging method, growth inhibition of three dermatophyte (E. flocosum, M. gypseum, T. mentagrophytes) was estimated by dilution methods on a solid medium and the anti-inflammatory activity was determined using the enzymatic method of 5-lipoxygenase inhibition. Results were compared with the standard coumpounds.

The yields of extraction were 0.14 and 0.32% respectively for Apium graveolens and Thymus vulgaris. The major components were limonène (50.7%) for Apium graveolens and thymol (57.9%) for Thymus vulgaris. These essential oils have shown antiradical properties with respective SC50 of 0.41 and 0.06 g/l for Apium graveolens and Thymus vulgaris. Essential oils of Apium graveolens and Thymus vulgaris have exhibited different antidermatophyte activities with MIC ranging from 1.28g/l to 3.40g/l and 0.26g/l to 0.43g/l respectively. Only Thymus vulgaris have presented an anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 of 0.19 g/l.

From These results these essential oils could be exploited as potential spring of molecules endowed with antiradical, antidermatophyte and anti-inflammatory activities