Essential Oil of Pituranthos scoparius (ssp. sahariensis) from Algerian Sahara: Antifungalal Effects, Mechanisms of Action and Antioxidant Activities

The objective of this study was to analyze the antifungal effect of the essential oil of Pituranthos scoparius, a plant native to southern Algeria, as well as to explore its mechanisms of action against fungal microorganisms. We evaluated its antifungal activity against four microbial strains and examined its effects on the release of cellular material (at 260 nm), cell viability, lipase activity, and salt tolerance. The essential oil yield was 1.081% (w/w). The chemical composition of the PSEO was characterized by a high content of sabinene at a percentage of 13.68%. The microdilution method in liquid medium showed interesting antifungal activity against the examined fungal strains (yeasts) with different mechanisms of action. Our essential oils also exhibited effective hydrogen donation and primary antioxidant activity by reacting with the DPPH free radical. PSEO appears to be useful in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic applications.