Essential oils of the resins of Pinus brutia and Pinus pinea were evaluated for their biological potential. Essential oils were characterized using GC-MS and GC/FID. in vitro antimicrobial, phytotoxic, antioxidant, and insecticidal activities were carried out using the direct contact and the fumigant assays, respectively. The chemical profile of the essential oils of the resins of P. pinea and P. brutia included mainly α-pinene (21.39% and 25.40%), β-pinene (9.68% and 9.69%), and caryophyllene (9.12% and 4.81%). The essential oils of P. pinea and P. brutia exerted notable antimicrobial activities on Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis, insecticidal activities on Ephestia kuehniella eggs, phytotoxic activities on Lactuca sativa, Lepidium sativum, and Portulaca oleracea, as well as antioxidant potential. Indications of the biological activities of the essential oils suggest their use in the formulation of ecofriendly and biocompatible pharmaceuticals.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Bacillus subtilis ; drug effects ; Bicyclic Monoterpenes ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Insecta ; drug effects ; Insecticides ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Lepidium ; drug effects ; Lettuce ; drug effects ; Mediterranean Region ; Micrococcus luteus ; drug effects ; Monoterpenes ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Pinus ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes ; Portulaca ; drug effects ; Resins, Plant ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Terpenes ; analysis ; pharmacology