In vitro Assessment of Two Species of the Genus Pinus Growing in Algeria for their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity

Sa？etak A comparative study of the hydrodistilled oils of Pinus pinea L. and Pinus pinaster Aiton by GC and GC-MS was conducted. The combined essential oil of P. pinea was rich in limonene (56.5%), followed by α-pinene (6.5%) and β-phellandrene (6.2%). The major compounds from the combined essential oil of P. pinaster were: α-pinene (36.4%), β-pinene (12.3%) and (E)-β-caryophyllene (7.1%). The results showed that the oils have a great potential as antibiotics against some microorganisms: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. The maximum zone of inhibition of P. pinea was obtained against Candida albicans (23 mm). Antioxidant capacity was assessed by in vitro testing using 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and significant activity was found for the various oils. These results suggested that essential oils of P. pinea and P. pinaster possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and could, therefore, present potential source of active ingredients for food and pharmaceutical industry