Chemical composition, antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity of the essential oil of algerian cachrys sicula L

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 beta-pinene (17.9%), sabinene (17.8%), myrcene (12%), and alpha-pinene (11.4%). In vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oil was assayed by three methods, namely ABTS(center dot+), metal chelating, and DPPH center dot assays. The antioxidant activity of the oil was higher in the ABTS(center dot+) 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 acetylcholinesterase and good butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory effects.