Essential Oil Composition, Free-Radical-Scavenging and Antibacterial Effect from Stems of Ephedra alata alenda in Tunisia

AbstractThe chemical composition, the antioxidant activity as well as the antibacterial activity of the essential oil and various extracts of Ephedra alata alenda grows in Tunisia were evaluated. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil resulted in identifying 19 compounds representing 93.9 % of oil, and linalool (19.3 %), (Z)-3-tridecene (7.8 %), n-pentadecane (7.6 %), 1,8-cineole (7.1 %), as major compounds. The antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.027 mg /ml) and the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract were the highest in comparison with the other extracts.