article · Separations
Essential oils extracted from the aerial parts of Artemisia herba-alba harvested in the Fez-Boulemane region of Morocco during March, June, and September display distinct yields, chemical profiles, and biological strengths. Hydrodistillation yields varied between 0.49 and 1.74 percent, with June providing the highest output. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified oxygenated monoterpenes as the dominant constituents across all periods, led by cis chrysanthenyl acetate, beta-thujone, and camphor. Laboratory evaluation confirmed that all three extracts possess antimicrobial activity against common bacteria, wood rot fungi, and mould species. Samples gathered in June and September exhibited stronger inhibitory action than those collected in March, likely linked to synergistic effects among monoterpenes. These results show that seasonal harvesting directly influences oil composition, highlighting the plant as a candidate for pathogen control and material protection.
Rising microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics and synthetic fungicides drives the search for safe, natural substitutes. Demonstrating that Artemisia herba-alba essential oils can inhibit hazardous bacteria, crop-damaging moulds, and wood-destroying fungi highlights their broad utility. Identifying that harvest timing significantly alters chemical strength also provides vital baseline data for standardising plant-derived compounds for public health, agriculture, and construction materials.
This work points to potential applications in natural antibacterial treatments, food protection, and antifungal timber preservatives. Target users include biocide developers, food processors, and wood treatment specialists seeking replacements for synthetic chemicals. However, because the study represents early-stage laboratory research focused on extraction and in vitro dilution assays, extensive formulation work, stability assessment, and real-world efficacy testing remain necessary before commercial deployment.
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In Morocco, the endemic Artemisia herba-alba is well known by its traditional uses and health benefits. The search for natural, safe, and effective antibacterial and antifungal agents from plants is in high demand due to microbial and fungal resistance to conventional synthetic antibiotics and antifungal drugs. In this study, the A. herba-alba was collected from the region of Fez-Boulemane during the periods of March, June, and September. Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from the aerial part of the plant by the hydrodistillation method. The chemical constituents were determined using GC-MS as analytical tools. The antimicrobial activities of different oils were tested using the macrodilution method. The results showed the difference in the yields between the three EOs (0.49, 1.74, 1.30% (mL/100 g)), respectively, as well as in their corresponding chemical compositions. The main constituents revealed by GC-MS are higher contents of oxygenated monoterpenes (84.7, 84.4, 81%), such as cis chrysanthenyl acetate (30, 26.7, 27.6%), β-thujone (23.2, 12.9, 15.4%), camphor (9.76, 14.3, 15.8%), chrysanthenone (2.4, 1, 14%), 1,8-cineole (1.5, 11.7, 11.8%), trans β-dihydroterpineol (7.8, 7.2, 6.9%), α-thujone (4.8, 3, 5.4%), and sesquiterpenic davanone (3.9, 1.5, 1.4%), respectively. The three EOs biological activities’ results showed significant antimicrobial effects against four bacteria tested (E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus, M. luteus), with the MIC values ranging from 0.1 to 0.03% (v/v), as well as interesting antifungal effects on both wood rot fungi against four fungi examined (G. trabeum, P. placenta, C. puteana, C. versicolor) and molds against three microorganisms tested (A. niger, P. digitatum, P. expansum), with MIC values ranging from 0.2 to 0.03% (v/v) and 0.4 to 0.03% (v/v), respectively. The June and September EO samples showed more potent activities than those collected during March. Our research findings showed quantitative variability in both EO contents and chemical compositions, which could be due to the phenological stages, climatic conditions of growth, and harvesting periods. The potent results of the antimicrobial/antifungal activities were provided by the EOs of June and September and might be correlated to the contribution and synergism effect of all oxygenated monoterpenes. These results support the possible application of A. herba-alba EOs as natural and safe antibacterial agents, and an effective alternative to synthetic drugs, enabling the prevention and treatment of certain pathogenic infections in food and health, and the preservation of wood alteration against fungi.
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DOI: 10.3390/separations10010059
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