Evaluation of the biological activity of Capparis spinosa var. aegyptiaca essential oils and fatty constituents as Anticipated Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agents

Abstract

The essential oils and fatty constituents of Capparis spinosa as an important medicinal plant were extracted in petroleum ether and tested as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. The components of the petroleum ether extract were identified by spectroscopic analysis using GC/MS. The spectral analysis showed that this extract contains mainly tetracosane (14.368%), methyl-cyclopentane (11.979%), heptadecane (11.794%), heptacosane (10.098%), eicosane (3.481%), vitamin E (4.280%), α-Cadinol (3.079%), Spathulenol (0.868%), α-Curcumene (1.188%), Muurolol (0.917%), phytol (1.727%), trans geranyl geraniol (0.862%), Palmitic acid (1.132%) and stigmasterol (2.172%). The functional chemical groups were estimated using Fourier transform infrared” FTIR” spectroscopy. The main phytochemical constituents present in this extract were quantitatively estimated. The antioxidant scavenging activity of petroleum ether extract was also examined using DPPH·, FIC, ABTS+· and FRAP assays. The petroleum ether extract of C. spinosa expressed a good antioxidant activity. The antimicrobial activity of C. spinosa extract was evaluated against several pathogenic bacterial strains such as Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneunomonia, Erwinia carotovora and Escherichia coli in addition to Candida albicans as pathogenic fungal strain. The extract exhibited a broad antimicrobial spectrum against the tested microorganisms. MIC and MBC of the extract were determined. The results showed inhibitory activity against all the tested organisms while showed cidal activity against only B. subtilis, K. pneunomonia and C. albicans.