Phytochemical analysis, Antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of Pulicaria mauritanica from south-east of Morocco

The essential oil, methanol and petroleum ether extracts of P. mauritanica (Asteraceae) were assayed for their chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The essential oils were obtained using a Clevenger apparatus while a soxhlet apparatus method was used to obtain methanol (polar) and petroleum ether (nonpolar) extracts. . GC-MS of essential oil revealed that the major compound is carvotanacetone representing 87.58% of the essential oil of P. mauritanica. Essential oil showed a strong inhibition of Penicillium digitatum mycelial growth (100% at 900ppm); ether extract gave 46.212 ± 1.543% of inhibition at 30,000 ppm, while methanol extract exhibited no activity against P. digitatum. Test of antibacterial activity of P. mauritanica essential oil against listeria innocua, pseudomonas aeruginosa and staphylococcus aureus revealed a strong antibacterial activity. Methanol extract showed a strong reduction of DPPH (IC50 = 0.027 ± 0.004 mg/mL), while essential oils and ether extract exhibited median reduction of DPPH, IC50 are successively 0.080 ± 0.005 mg/mL and 0.123 ± 0.0006 mg/mL.. Phytochemical screening of studied organic extracts showed that polyphenolic compounds are the major constituants. Linear correlation between total polyphenols and total flavonoids contents and antioxidant capacity was obtained; the correlation was positive.