A comparative evaluation of mutagenic, antimutagenic, radical scavenging and antibacterial activities of essential oils of Pituranthos chloranthus (Coss. et Dur.)

Drug Chem Toxicol. 2009;32(4):372-80. doi: 10.1080/01480540903196790.

Abstract

The Salmonella typhimurium/microsome assay is a widely used bacterial genotoxicity assay to test potential carcinogens. The aim of this work was to evaluate the mutagenic and antimutagenic activities with and without the addition of an extrinsic metabolic activation system of essential oils obtained from an aerial part of Pituranthos chloranthus harvested from different stations in Tunisia. The oils showed no mutagenicity when tested with S. typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, and TA1535. On the other hand, we showed that these essential oils reduced significantly Benzo [a] pyrene (B[a] P) and sodium-azide-induced mutagenicity. The scavenging capacity of these essential oils was also estimated by evaluating the inhibition of DPPH radical. Essential oils harvested at Medenine and Gabes in November were more effective in scavenging activity. The essential oils were tested for their antimicrobial properties against five different bacteria, and were found to be weakly active, with MIC and MBC values in the range 0.6-4 and 2.2-5 mg/mL, respectively.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
  • Antimutagenic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteria
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Magnoliopsida
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects*
  • Mutagenicity Tests
  • Mutagens / pharmacology*
  • Mutation
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Salmonella typhimurium / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antimutagenic Agents
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Mutagens
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Extracts
  • Plant Oils