Wild Chamomile [Cladanthus mixtus (L.) Chevall.] Collected from Central-Northern Morocco: Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract

We investigated phytochemicals and biological activities in Cladanthus mixtus essential oil (CMEO) and various extracts. To this end, flowers CMEO microwave-extracted was subjected to chemical analysis using GC-MS. Antimicrobial activities of CMEO and various extracts obtained by maceration and Soxhlet were tested against four microbial strains using agar well diffusion assay and microtitration method. Antioxidant activities were determined, for extracts, using DPPH. CMEO chemical composition revealed 44 compounds. Santolina alcohol (40.7), germacrene D (8.9), and α-pinene (5.7%) were the main constituents. The best records of yield, total phenolics, and flavonoids were obtained with Soxhlet and methanol for extracts. Important antimicrobial activities were recorded in CMEO and extracts. For CMEO, MICs ranged from 10.17 (Bacillus subtilis ATCC 3366) to 13.83 μg/mL (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922). Among extracts, Met-OH was the most efficient with MICs ranged from 11.17 (Candida albicans ATCC 10231) to 15.83 μg/mL (E. coli). Met-OH extract presented the highest antiradical activity (IC50 = 55.50 µg/mL), while the n-hexane displayed the lowest one (IC50= 259 µg/mL). Based on these outcomes, CMEO and various extracts from Cladanthus mixtus flowers could be suggested for their use as potential natural preservatives to enhance foods shelf-life, herbal formulations, and also as antiseptics and disinfectants.