Comparative chemical composition and bioactivity of leaves essential oils from nine Sicilian accessions of Myrtus communis L

In this study, the essential oils obtained from the leaves of Myrtus communis L. stored in a collection orchard located at the experimental station ‘Orleans’ of the Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences of the University of Palermo (Italy) were investigated. The essential oils, analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, revealed the presence of α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, limonene and myrtenyl acetate as dominant constituents. The neuroprotective effects of M. communis essential oils were investigated by analysing the antioxidant properties and cholinesterases (acetylcholinesterase, AChE, and butyrylcholinesterase, BChE) inhibitory activity. Essential oils from Scopello accession possessed a promising radical scavenging potential with IC50 values of 71.4 and 75.9 μg/mL for EO1 and EO2, respectively. Essential oil from Monte Pellegrino (EO5) showed the highest cholinesterase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 96.0 and 87.9 μg/mL for AChE and BChE, respectively. Significant result was obtained also with EO1 against the BChE (IC50 of 77.8 μg/mL). Data on essential oil together with antioxidant effects were used as variables to set a matrix for statistical analysis. Results suggest that M. communis leaves EO could be potentially used in pharmaceutical field.