The therapeutic potential of essential oils (EOs) from Cinnamomum verum (C. verum) and Artemisia herba alba (A. herba alba) was investigated through a comprehensive analysis of their chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. Gas Chromatography--Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified cinnamaldehyde (72.76%) as the primary component in C. verum EO and camphor (55.59%) as the major constituent in A. herba alba EO. In vitro assays revealed that C. verum EO exhibited superior antioxidant activity, with a nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity of 85.4% at 200 µg/mL and a ferric reducing power (FRP) of 1.2 absorbance units at 700 nm, compared to A. herba alba EO, which showed 45.6% NO scavenging and 0.6 absorbance units in FRP. Both EOs displayed dose-dependent antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains, with C. verum EO showing inhibition zones of 22.5 mm and 20.3 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, while A. herba alba EO exhibited zones of 18.7 mm and 16.4 mm. In the red blood cell (RBC) H₂O₂-induced hemolysis model, C. verum EO demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory and protective effects, inhibiting hemolysis by 78.3% at 200 µg/mL, compared to 52.6% for A. herba alba EO. A 50:50 combination of the two EOs showed intermediate activity, with 65.4% inhibition of hemolysis, suggesting partial synergy. In silico ADMET analysis predicted high oral bioavailability (80-90%) and strong intestinal absorption for the major compounds, with cinnamaldehyde and camphor showing potential for brain penetration (BOILED-Egg model). Molecular docking studies revealed the strong binding affinities of δ-cadinene (ΔGb = -7.48 kcal/mol) and α-thujone (ΔGb = -4.75 kcal/mol) to key enzymes involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and bacterial infections, supporting their multitarget therapeutic potential. These findings highlight the promising applications of C. verum and A. herba alba EOs as natural agents for combating oxidative stress, inflammation, and bacterial infections, with potential for integration into therapeutic formulations.
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Pharmacological Evaluation Essential Oils from Cinnamomum verum and Artemisia herba alba: Chemical Profiling and Bioactive Applications in Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Published:
19 May 2025
by MDPI
in The 4th International Electronic Conference on Antibiotics
session Novel Antimicrobial Agents: Discovery, Design, Synthesis and Action
Abstract:
Keywords: Cinnamomum verum; Artemisia herba alba; essential oils; GC-MS analysis; synergistic bioactivity; anti-bacterial; antioxidant; anti-inflammatory
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