Antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of Matricaria pubescens from the southeastern Morocco

This study explores the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Matricaria pubescens (Desf) Schultz, an aromatic plant traditionally used in Moroccan medicine. Collected from Errachidia, extracts were prepared using water, methanol and petroleum ether to assess polyphenol, flavonoid and tannin contents. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated via DPPH, ABTS and RPC assays, while antimicrobial activity was tested against six microbial strains using disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The methanolic extract exhibited the highest bioactivity, with inhibition zones of 16 mm (Staphylococcus aureus), 18 mm (Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii), 10 mm (Escherichia coli), 12 mm (Salmonella abony), 14 mm (Candida albicans) and 12 mm (Trichophyton rubrum). Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii and Staphylococcus aureus were the most sensitive (MIC: 1.87 and 3.75 mg/mL), while antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans (7.5 mg/mL) and Trichophyton rubrum (15 mg/mL). These findings highlight the significant antimicrobial potential of M. pubescens, reinforcing its pharmaceutical value and encouraging further investigation into its bioactive compounds.