Title : Essential oils from Tunisian cupressus sempervirens varieties: a natural resource for traditional and modern skin therapies
Abstract:
Medicinal and aromatic plants have long been central to traditional medicine systems and phytotherapy, offering a wide range of bioactive compounds with health-promoting effects. In this context, Cupressus sempervirens, traditionally used for its antiseptic and astringent properties, represents a valuable source of essential oils (EOs) with potential applications in dermatology and cosmetology. The present study investigates the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and enzyme inhibitory potential of leaf essential oils from three Tunisian varieties: C. sempervirens var. horizontalis, var. numidica, and var. pyramidalis. GC-MS analysis identified 47 constituents, primarily monoterpenes, with α-pinene and 3-carene as dominant compounds. Chemometric tools (PCA and HCA) allowed us to distinguish two chemical profiles: one associated with var. pyramidalis (sub-humid bioclimate), enriched in sesquiterpenes like cedrol, cryptopinone, and totarol; and the other grouping var. horizontalis and numidica (semi-arid regions), marked by higher levels of α-pinene and limonene. Biological assays revealed strong antioxidant properties for var. pyramidalis (IC?? = 45.49 µg/mL for DPPH), while var. horizontalis showed the most effective inhibitory effects on tyrosinase (IC?? = 178.5 µg/mL) and collagenase (IC?? = 229.59 µg/mL), two enzymes involved in hyperpigmentation and skin aging. These results support the traditional use of C. sempervirens and highlight its essential oils as promising candidates for the development of natural ingredients in phytotherapeutic and cosmeceutical formulations, bridging ancestral knowledge with modern skincare innovations.
