Abstract:
Medicinal and aromatic plants play an essential role in traditional and modern medicine in
Algeria. The aim of the present study was to determine the physicochemical characteristics of
the essential oils (EOs) of Lavandula stoechas (EOLS) and Cymbopogon schoenanthus
(EOCS), their chemical compositions and to evaluate their antioxidant, antibacterial and
insecticidal activities, as well as to formulate a cream (CLS 4%) and an ointment (PLS 4%)
based on the EOLS, to check their physicochemical and microbiological qualities and to
evaluate their healing activities. A mosquito repellent was also formulated based on EOCS,
with the aim of testing its physicochemical and microbiological quality control and its
repellent activity with an aim of marketing. GC-MS analysis showed that linalool (16.35%)
and liinalyl acetate (9.71%) are the main compounds in EOLS, while EOCS was dominated
by trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (8.60%) and elemol (8.57%). The antioxidant power was studied
in vitro using CAT, DPPH and PR tests and β-carotene bleaching. The results showed that our
plant's EOs have moderate antioxidant activity. The results of the antibacterial activity of EOs
revealed good antibacterial activity with the most sensitive strain being B. cereus, with MIC
values equal to 0.048 and 0.012 mg/mL and MBC values equal to 0.097 and 0.024 mg/mL,
respectively. The insecticidal activity of EOCS was also evaluated on L4 stage larvae and
nymphs of Culiseta longiareolata. The obtained results showed good insecticidal activity,
with LC50s of 0.0086 and 0.013%, and TL
50s of 35.48 and 48 h, respectively. The quality
control results for the mosquito repellent, ointment and cream complied with European
Pharmacopoeia standards. The study also assessed the healing activity of the two bioproducts
CLS 4% and PLS 4% in the treatment of wounds. The results showed good healing activity
for CLS 4% and PLS 4% (98.56% and 98.49%, respectively), similar to that of the
commercial healing cream (CicatrylÆ) (98.31%). The overall results obtained support support
the marketing of these bioproducts in the pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical industries.
