Oregano: Chemical Analysis and Evaluation of Its Antimalarial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities

• Published in: Journal of food science 2011-04, Vol.76 (3), p.C512-C518
• Main Authors: Babili, Fatiha El, Bouajila, Jalloul, Souchard, Jean Pierre, Bertrand, Cédric, Bellvert, Florian, Fouraste, Isabelle, Moulis, Claude, Valentin, Alexis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthocyanins - analysis; antimalarial activity; Antimalarials - chemistry; Antimalarials - isolation & purification; Antimalarials - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - isolation & purification; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - isolation & purification; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Aroma and flavouring agent industries; Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemical analysis; cytotoxicity MCF7; Drug Discovery; essential oil; Female; Flame Ionization; Flavonoids - analysis; Flowers & plants; Food industries; Food science; Foods; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; GC-MS; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Life Sciences; Malaria; Mass spectrometry; Medicine, African Traditional; Morocco; Oils, Volatile - chemistry; Oils, Volatile - isolation & purification; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Oregano; Origanum - chemistry; Phenols - analysis; Plant Components, Aerial - chemistry; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plasmodium falciparum - drug effects; Polyphenols; Solvents - chemistry; Tannins - analysis
• ISSN: 0022-1147; 1750-3841
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02109.x

:  GC‐FID and GC‐MS analysis of essential oil from oregano leaves (Origanum compactum) resulted in the identification of 46 compounds, representing more than 98% of the total composition. Carvacrol was the predominant compound (36.46%), followed by thymol (29.74%) and p‐cymene (24.31%). Serial extractions with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water were performed on aerials parts of Origanum compactum. In these extracts, different chemical families were characterized: polyphenols (gallic acid equivalent 21.2 to 858.3 g/kg), tannins (catechin equivalent 12.4 to 510.3 g/kg), anthocyanins (cyanidin equivalent 0.38 to 5.63 mg/kg), and flavonoids (quercetin equivalent 14.5 to 54.7 g/kg). The samples (essential oil and extracts) were subjected to a screening for antioxidant (DPPH and ABTS assays) and antimalarial activities and against human breast cancer cells. The essential oil showed a higher antioxidant activity with an IC50= 2 ± 0.1 mg/L. Among the extracts, the aqueous extract had the highest antioxidant activity with an IC50= 4.8 ± 0.2 mg/L (DPPH assay). Concerning antimalarial activity, Origanum compactum essential oil and ethyl acetate extract showed the best results with an IC50 of 34 and 33 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, ethyl acetate extract (30 mg/L) and ethanol extract (56 mg/L) showed activity against human breast cancer cells (MCF7). The oregano essential oil was considered to be nontoxic.