Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oils of Eucalyptus Globulus and Rosmarinus Officinalis from Algeria (Constantine).

Abstract

This comparative study aims to examine the biological activity of essential oils extracted from the leaves of two medicinal plants (Eucalyptus globulus and Rosmarinus officinalis) harvested in the Constantine region. The essential oils were obtained through hydrodistillation, and the yield obtained from E. globulus (2.32%) is higher compared to that of R. officinalis (1.04%). Antimicrobial study of the essential oils using the direct contact method revealed inhibitory activity on the growth of the tested microorganisms. The antioxidant activity of the essential oils, evaluated by the DPPH reduction method, showed significant activity for all products but remained lower compared to the standard antioxidant used, BHT. The activities can be ranked in descending order as follows: BHT >E. globulus essential oil >R. officinalis essential oil. This work demonstrates that enhancing the biological activities of plants can contribute to their valorization.