GC-MS analysis and in vitro study of antifungal, antiurease and anticholinesterase potentials of origanum compactum Benth. Essential oil

Abstract

Origanum compactum is widely used as foods and in traditional medicine, considering the increasing use (culinary and medicinal) of this plant with beneficial effects on health and in search of new biomolecules with therapeutic effects. The current study aimed to investigate, the chemical composition of O. compactum essential oil prepared from the aerial parts and to provide data on its antifungal, anti-urease and anticholinesterase activities. O. compactum essential oil (EO) was analyzed by GC-MS, antifungal activity was carried out by the measurement of the radial growth of the fungus. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinestérase (BuChE) and urease inhibitory activity assays were used to determine enzyme inhibition capacity of the essential oil.

The GC-MS analysis revealed carvacrol (53.38 %) and thymol (21.16 %) as the major compounds. The essential oil exhibited an antifungal effect against Fusarium. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (at 0.01% of the essential oil, 50.53 ± 2.13% of mycelia growth was inhibited). Urease activity was inhibited with an IC50 of 74.52±3.35 µg/ml. In addition, the investigation of anticholinesterase potential revealed a moderate acetylchlinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase  inhibitory effects with an IC50 value of 103.25±1.86 µg/ml  and 69.89±3.32µg/ml, respectively. This is the first study that demonstrates that essential oil  can lead to inhibition of urease and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes.

According to these results, O. compactum essential oil could be a source of bio-fungicide, antiurease agents and an effective source of components having anticholinesterase activity.