Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential oil from Scales of Moroccan Juniperus phoenicea

Abstract

Abstract-The essential oil of Juniperus phoenicea was obtained by hydrodistillation method using a Clevenger-type apparatus with a yield of 1.9 % and was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Twelve volatile compounds were identified representing 99,85% of the total oil composition, while the α-pinene (78,31%), β-Myrcene (11,92%) and limonene (3,96%) were the major compounds. This essential oil was evaluated as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. The result showed that the oil presents a high biological activity as an antibacterial agent against the three tested strains Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeroginos. It's also active as an antifungal agent against the Candida albicans with a zone inhibition of 28 mm. Keywords: Medicinal plant, Juniperus, phoenicea, Essential oil, Chemical composition, Antimicrobial activity.