查看文章

In this work, in order to explore a new Algerian medicinal plant used in traditional medicine, the essential oil of the leaves of Cachrys sicula L. (Apiaceae) collected from Algeria, obtained by hydrodistillation, was analyzed by GC/MS. Thirty-two compounds were identified accounting for 98.6% of the total oil, which is characterized by a high content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (74.8%). The main constituents of the essential oil were β-pinene (17.9%), sabinene (17.8%), myrcene (12%), and α-pinene (11.4%). In vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oil was assayed by three methods, namely ABTS^•+, metal chelating, and DPPH^• assays. The antioxidant activity of the oil was higher in the ABTS^•+ method. Anticholinesterase activity was screened by the Ellman method against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) which are the chief enzymes of Alzheimer’s disease. The results showed mild …