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Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil from Cupressus arizonica Greene Cones Against Clinical and Foodborne

Year 2026, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 18 - 23, 16.03.2026
https://doi.org/10.62425/pharmata.1883576
https://izlik.org/JA54WZ65LD

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) derived from the cones of Cupressus arizonica Greene collected from Erzincan and to evaluate its antibacterial potential against a range of pathogenic microorganisms, including strains not previously investigated for this species.
Methods: The essential oil was obtained from fresh cones via hydrodistillation for 4 hours. Chemical profiling was performed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The antibacterial activity was assessed against six pathogenic bacteria using the disc diffusion method, with imipenem serving as a positive control.
Results: GC-MS analysis identified 35 compounds, representing 93.83% of the total oil. The major components were α -pinene (53.02%), 3-carene (13.31%), α -myrcene (4.54%), sabinene (4.24%), and limonene (3.47%). The oil exhibited selective antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones recorded for Salmonella enterica (10.0 ± 0.3 mm), Clostridium perfringens (8.1 ± 0.5 mm), and Bacillus cereus (8.0 ± 0.6 mm). However, no inhibitory effect was observed against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli.
Conclusion: This study identifies a distinct α-pinene/3-carene chemotype of C. arizonica influenced by the regional flora of Erzincan. Notably, this research represents the first report of the inhibitory efficacy of C. arizonica cone essential oil against the anaerobic pathogen Clostridium perfringens. The findings suggest that this essential oil could be a promising natural candidate for targeted applications against certain foodborne and anaerobic pathogens.

Ethical Statement

This study did not involve human participants, human biological materials, or experimental animals. Therefore, ethical committee approval was not required.

Supporting Institution

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors

Project Number

-

Thanks

-

References

  • 1. Eryilmaz M, Tosun A, Tümen İ. Antimicrobial activity of some species from Pinaceae and Cupressaceae. Turk J Pharm Sci. 2016;13(1):35-40.
  • 2. Farjon A. A monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Cupressaceae Royal Botanic Garden Kew; 2005.
  • 3. Chéraif Jannet HB, Hammami M, Khouja M, Mighri Z. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Cupressus arizonica Greene. Biochem Syst Ecol. 2007;35(12):813-820.
  • 4. Fakhri S, Jafarian S, Majnooni MB, Farzaei MH, Mohammadi-Noori E, Khan H. Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil isolated from Cupressus arizonica Greene fruits. Korean J Pain. 2022;35(1):33-42.
  • 5. Griffith MP, Bartel SC. A Cypress (Cupressus Arizonica, Cupressaceae) in Jeff Davis County, Texas? SIDA, contrib bot. 2002:585-592.
  • 6. Tawfeek N, Fikry E, Mahdi I, et al. Cupressus arizonica greene: phytochemical profile and cosmeceutical and dermatological properties of its leaf extracts. Molecules. 2023;28(3):1036.
  • 7. Shafaie F, Aramideh S, Valizadegan O, Safaralizadeh MH, Pesyan NN. GC/MS analysis of the essential oils of Cupressus arizonica Greene, Juniperus communis L. and Mentha longifolia L. Bull Chem Soc Ethiop 2019;33(3):389-400.
  • 8. Mannai Y, Dhahri S, Jama MLB, Hamrouni L. Insecticidal activity of essential oils of Cupressus arizonica Greene and C. sempervirens L. on Tortrix viridana (Lepidotera, Tortricidae). World J Biol Biotechnol. 2021;6(1):1-5.
  • 9. Emami S, Fakhrjafary M, Tafaghodi M, Hassanzadeh M. Chemical composition and antioxidant activities of the essential oils of different parts of Cupressus arizonica Greene. J Essent Oil Res. 2010;22(3):193-199.
  • 10. Khouaja W, Oliveira R, Raïes A, Dias ACP. Antifungal activity of the essential oils from Cupressus arizonica var. arizonica and var. glabra. Ind Crops Prod. 2015;77:614-623.
  • 11. Ismail A, Mancini E, De Martino L, et al. Chemical composition and biological activities of Tunisian Cupressus arizonica Greene essential oils. Chem Biodiversity. 2014;11(1):150-160.
  • 12. Sedaghat MM, Dehkordi AS, Khanavi M, Abai MR, Mohtarami F, Vatandoost H. Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oil of Cupressus arizonica EL Greene against malaria vector Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae). Pharmacogn Res. 2011;3(2):135.
  • 13. Patterson JE, McElmeel L, Wiederhold NP. In vitro activity of essential oils against gram-positive and gram-negative clinical isolates, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Oxford University Press US; 2019:ofz502.
  • 14. Gözcü S, Akşit Z, Şimşek S, Akşit H. Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Hesperis isatidea (Boiss.) DA German & Al‐Shehbaz Essential Oil. Chem Biodiversity. 2025:e00455.
  • 15. Fadli M, Chevalier J, Saad A, Mezrioui NE, Hassani L, Pages JM. Essential oils from Moroccan plants as potential chemosensitisers restoring antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2011;38(4):325-330.
  • 16. Valeriano C, De Oliveira TLC, De Carvalho SM, das Graças Cardoso M, Alves E, Piccoli RH. The sanitizing action of essential oil-based solutions against Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis S64 biofilm formation on AISI 304 stainless steel. Food control. 2012;25(2):673-677.
  • 17. Miyazawa M, Marumoto S, Kobayashi T, Yoshida S, Utsumi Y. Determination of characteristic components in essential oils from Wisteria brachybotrys using gas chromatography-olfactometry incremental dilution technique. Rec Nat Prod. 2011;5(3):221.
  • 18. Maia JGS, Andrade EHA, Maria das Graças BZ. Volatile constituents of the leaves, fruits and flowers of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.). J Food Compos Anal. 2000;13(3):227-232.
  • 19. Oliveira DR, Leitao GG, Santos SS, et al. Ethnopharmacological study of two Lippia species from Oriximiná, Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;108(1):103-108.
  • 20. Gözcü S, Akşit Z, Akşit H, Şimşek S, Korkmaz M. Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Rosa villosa subsp. mollis R. Keller & Gams., Rosa hemisphaerica J. Herrm. and Natural Hybrid Rosa ozcelikii Korkmaz & Kandemir Essential Oil. Flavour Fragr J. 2026;41(1):58-65.
  • 21. Gözcü S, Akşit Z, Akşit H. Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil Extracted from Hyoscyamus niger L. Hu Y, Inflorescence. Erzincan Üniv Fen Bilim Enst Derg. 2024;17(3):751-760.
  • 22. Gözcü S, Akşit Z. Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of three volatile oils extracted from nigella sativa L. seeds. BSJ Health Sci. 2023;6(4):662-666. 23. Akşit H, Şimşek S, Aydın A, Bayar Y, Alkan M. Chemical Composition and Bioactivities of Ferulago setifolia K. Koch. Essential Oil: Antifungal, Insecticidal and Antiproliferative Potential. Flavour Fragr J. 2025;40(4):665-672.
  • 24. Aksit H, Bayar Y, Simsek S, Ulutas Y. Chemical composition and antifungal activities of the essential oils of Thymus species (Thymus pectinatus, Thymus convolutus, Thymus vulgaris) against plant pathogens. J Essent Oil-Bear Plants. 2022;25(1):200-207.
  • 25. Nishio E, Ribeiro J, Oliveira A, et al. Antibacterial synergic effect of honey from two stingless bees: Scaptotrigona bipunctata Lepeletier, 1836, and S. postica Latreille, 1807. Sci Rep. 2016;6(1):21641.
  • 26. Domingos SCB, Clebis VH, Nakazato G, et al. Antibacterial activity of honeys from Amazonian stingless bees of Melipona spp. and its effects on bacterial cell morphology. J Sci Food Agric. 2021;101(5):2072-2077.
  • 27. Gözcü S, Akşit Z, Şimşek S, et al. Phytochemical analysis and biological evaluation of Ferulago setifolia K. Koch. J Sci Food Agric. 2024;104(3):1382-1390.
  • 28. Aalipour H, Nikbakht A, Sabzalian MR. Essential oil composition and total phenolic content in Cupressus arizonica G. in response to microbial inoculation under water stress conditions. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):1209.
  • 29. Cherrad S, Jaouadi I, Bouyahya A, et al. Phytochemical analysis and study of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of two parts of Cupressus arizonica essential oils. J Food Qual. 2022;2022(1):8629974.
  • 30. Al-Mouhajer L, Chabo R, Saab AM, Saade K, Makhlouf H. Antibacterial activities of essential oils isolated from two species Cupressus arizonica Greene and Cupressus sempervirens L.(var. horizontalis and pyramidalis). Eur J Biomed Pharm Sci. 2017;4(12):430-435.
  • 31. Hosseinihashemi SK, Barzegari F, Baseri H, Barbosa LCA. Powerful antioxidants within Cupressus arizonica Greene female cones and leaves essential oil. Nat Prod Res. 2025;39(7):1783-1792.
  • 32. Balti S, Mabrouk Y, Amri I, et al. Essential oils from Cupressus arizonica Greene: chemical composition, antimicrobial and antienzymatic activity. J Essent Oil Bear Plants. 2026;29:1-20.
  • 33. Aloui F, Baraket M, Jedidi S, et al. Chemical composition, anti-radical and antibacterial activities of essential oils from needles of Pinus halepensis Mill., P. pinaster Aiton., and P. pinea L. J Essent Oil-Bear Plants. 2021;24(3):453-460.
  • 34. Shu H, Chen H, Wang X, et al. Antimicrobial activity and proposed action mechanism of 3-Carene against Brochothrix thermosphacta and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Molecules. 2019;24(18):3246.
  • 35. Han Y, Chen W, Sun Z. Antimicrobial activity and mechanism of limonene against Staphylococcus aureus. J Food Saf. 2021;41(5):e12918.
  • 36. Vuuren Sv, Viljoen AM. Antimicrobial activity of limonene enantiomers and 1, 8‐cineole alone and in combination. Flavour Fragr J. 2007;22(6):540-544.
  • 37. Moo CL, Yang SK, Osman MA, et al. Antibacterial activity and mode of action of β-caryophyllene on Bacillus cereus. Pol J Microbiol. 2020;69(1):49.

Erzincan Bölgesinden Toplanan Cupressus arizonica Greene Kozalak Uçucu Yağının Kimyasal Bileşimi ve Klinik ve Gıda Kaynaklı Patojenlere Karşı Antibakteriyel Aktivitesi

Year 2026, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 18 - 23, 16.03.2026
https://doi.org/10.62425/pharmata.1883576
https://izlik.org/JA54WZ65LD

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Erzincan'dan toplanan Cupressus arizonica Greene kozalaklarından elde edilen uçucu yağın (EO) kimyasal bileşimini karakterize etmek ve bu tür için daha önce incelenmemiş suşlar da dahil olmak üzere çeşitli patojenik mikroorganizmalara karşı antibakteriyel potansiyelini değerlendirmektir.
Yöntemler: Uçucu yağ, taze kozalaklardan 4 saatlik hidrod distillation yöntemiyle elde edildi. Kimyasal profilleme, Gaz Kromatografisi-Kütle Spektrometresi (GC-MS) kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. Antibakteriyel aktivite, imipenem pozitif kontrol olarak kullanılarak disk difüzyon yöntemiyle altı patojenik bakteriye karşı değerlendirildi.
Sonuçlar: GC-MS analizinde toplam yağın %93,83'ünü temsil eden 35 bileşik tanımlandı. Başlıca bileşenler α-pinen (%53,02), 3-karen (%13,31), α-mirsen (%4,54), sabinen (%4,24) ve limonen (%3,47)dir. Yağ, Salmonella enterica (10,0 ± 0,3 mm), Clostridium perfringens (8,1 ± 0,5 mm) ve Bacillus cereus (8,0 ± 0,6 mm) için kaydedilen inhibisyon bölgeleriyle seçici antibakteriyel aktivite sergiledi. Bununla birlikte, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ve Escherichia coli'ye karşı herhangi bir inhibitör etki gözlenmedi.
Sonuç: Bu çalışma, Erzincan'ın bölgesel florasından etkilenen C. arizonica'nın farklı bir α-pinen/3-karen kemotipini tanımlamaktadır. Özellikle, bu araştırma, C. arizonica kozalak esansiyel yağının anaerobik patojen Clostridium perfringens'e karşı inhibitör etkinliğine dair ilk raporu temsil etmektedir. Bulgular, bu esansiyel yağın, belirli gıda kaynaklı ve anaerobik patojenlere karşı uygulamalar için umut vadeden doğal bir aday olabileceğini göstermektedir.

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma insan katılımcı, insan biyolojik materyali veya deney hayvanı içermemektedir. Bu nedenle etik kurul onayı gerekmemektedir.

Supporting Institution

Bu araştırma kamu, ticari veya kâr amacı gütmeyen herhangi bir fon sağlayıcı kuruluştan özel bir destek almamıştır.

Project Number

-

Thanks

-

References

  • 1. Eryilmaz M, Tosun A, Tümen İ. Antimicrobial activity of some species from Pinaceae and Cupressaceae. Turk J Pharm Sci. 2016;13(1):35-40.
  • 2. Farjon A. A monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Cupressaceae Royal Botanic Garden Kew; 2005.
  • 3. Chéraif Jannet HB, Hammami M, Khouja M, Mighri Z. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Cupressus arizonica Greene. Biochem Syst Ecol. 2007;35(12):813-820.
  • 4. Fakhri S, Jafarian S, Majnooni MB, Farzaei MH, Mohammadi-Noori E, Khan H. Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil isolated from Cupressus arizonica Greene fruits. Korean J Pain. 2022;35(1):33-42.
  • 5. Griffith MP, Bartel SC. A Cypress (Cupressus Arizonica, Cupressaceae) in Jeff Davis County, Texas? SIDA, contrib bot. 2002:585-592.
  • 6. Tawfeek N, Fikry E, Mahdi I, et al. Cupressus arizonica greene: phytochemical profile and cosmeceutical and dermatological properties of its leaf extracts. Molecules. 2023;28(3):1036.
  • 7. Shafaie F, Aramideh S, Valizadegan O, Safaralizadeh MH, Pesyan NN. GC/MS analysis of the essential oils of Cupressus arizonica Greene, Juniperus communis L. and Mentha longifolia L. Bull Chem Soc Ethiop 2019;33(3):389-400.
  • 8. Mannai Y, Dhahri S, Jama MLB, Hamrouni L. Insecticidal activity of essential oils of Cupressus arizonica Greene and C. sempervirens L. on Tortrix viridana (Lepidotera, Tortricidae). World J Biol Biotechnol. 2021;6(1):1-5.
  • 9. Emami S, Fakhrjafary M, Tafaghodi M, Hassanzadeh M. Chemical composition and antioxidant activities of the essential oils of different parts of Cupressus arizonica Greene. J Essent Oil Res. 2010;22(3):193-199.
  • 10. Khouaja W, Oliveira R, Raïes A, Dias ACP. Antifungal activity of the essential oils from Cupressus arizonica var. arizonica and var. glabra. Ind Crops Prod. 2015;77:614-623.
  • 11. Ismail A, Mancini E, De Martino L, et al. Chemical composition and biological activities of Tunisian Cupressus arizonica Greene essential oils. Chem Biodiversity. 2014;11(1):150-160.
  • 12. Sedaghat MM, Dehkordi AS, Khanavi M, Abai MR, Mohtarami F, Vatandoost H. Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oil of Cupressus arizonica EL Greene against malaria vector Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae). Pharmacogn Res. 2011;3(2):135.
  • 13. Patterson JE, McElmeel L, Wiederhold NP. In vitro activity of essential oils against gram-positive and gram-negative clinical isolates, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Oxford University Press US; 2019:ofz502.
  • 14. Gözcü S, Akşit Z, Şimşek S, Akşit H. Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Hesperis isatidea (Boiss.) DA German & Al‐Shehbaz Essential Oil. Chem Biodiversity. 2025:e00455.
  • 15. Fadli M, Chevalier J, Saad A, Mezrioui NE, Hassani L, Pages JM. Essential oils from Moroccan plants as potential chemosensitisers restoring antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2011;38(4):325-330.
  • 16. Valeriano C, De Oliveira TLC, De Carvalho SM, das Graças Cardoso M, Alves E, Piccoli RH. The sanitizing action of essential oil-based solutions against Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis S64 biofilm formation on AISI 304 stainless steel. Food control. 2012;25(2):673-677.
  • 17. Miyazawa M, Marumoto S, Kobayashi T, Yoshida S, Utsumi Y. Determination of characteristic components in essential oils from Wisteria brachybotrys using gas chromatography-olfactometry incremental dilution technique. Rec Nat Prod. 2011;5(3):221.
  • 18. Maia JGS, Andrade EHA, Maria das Graças BZ. Volatile constituents of the leaves, fruits and flowers of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.). J Food Compos Anal. 2000;13(3):227-232.
  • 19. Oliveira DR, Leitao GG, Santos SS, et al. Ethnopharmacological study of two Lippia species from Oriximiná, Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;108(1):103-108.
  • 20. Gözcü S, Akşit Z, Akşit H, Şimşek S, Korkmaz M. Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Rosa villosa subsp. mollis R. Keller & Gams., Rosa hemisphaerica J. Herrm. and Natural Hybrid Rosa ozcelikii Korkmaz & Kandemir Essential Oil. Flavour Fragr J. 2026;41(1):58-65.
  • 21. Gözcü S, Akşit Z, Akşit H. Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil Extracted from Hyoscyamus niger L. Hu Y, Inflorescence. Erzincan Üniv Fen Bilim Enst Derg. 2024;17(3):751-760.
  • 22. Gözcü S, Akşit Z. Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of three volatile oils extracted from nigella sativa L. seeds. BSJ Health Sci. 2023;6(4):662-666. 23. Akşit H, Şimşek S, Aydın A, Bayar Y, Alkan M. Chemical Composition and Bioactivities of Ferulago setifolia K. Koch. Essential Oil: Antifungal, Insecticidal and Antiproliferative Potential. Flavour Fragr J. 2025;40(4):665-672.
  • 24. Aksit H, Bayar Y, Simsek S, Ulutas Y. Chemical composition and antifungal activities of the essential oils of Thymus species (Thymus pectinatus, Thymus convolutus, Thymus vulgaris) against plant pathogens. J Essent Oil-Bear Plants. 2022;25(1):200-207.
  • 25. Nishio E, Ribeiro J, Oliveira A, et al. Antibacterial synergic effect of honey from two stingless bees: Scaptotrigona bipunctata Lepeletier, 1836, and S. postica Latreille, 1807. Sci Rep. 2016;6(1):21641.
  • 26. Domingos SCB, Clebis VH, Nakazato G, et al. Antibacterial activity of honeys from Amazonian stingless bees of Melipona spp. and its effects on bacterial cell morphology. J Sci Food Agric. 2021;101(5):2072-2077.
  • 27. Gözcü S, Akşit Z, Şimşek S, et al. Phytochemical analysis and biological evaluation of Ferulago setifolia K. Koch. J Sci Food Agric. 2024;104(3):1382-1390.
  • 28. Aalipour H, Nikbakht A, Sabzalian MR. Essential oil composition and total phenolic content in Cupressus arizonica G. in response to microbial inoculation under water stress conditions. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):1209.
  • 29. Cherrad S, Jaouadi I, Bouyahya A, et al. Phytochemical analysis and study of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of two parts of Cupressus arizonica essential oils. J Food Qual. 2022;2022(1):8629974.
  • 30. Al-Mouhajer L, Chabo R, Saab AM, Saade K, Makhlouf H. Antibacterial activities of essential oils isolated from two species Cupressus arizonica Greene and Cupressus sempervirens L.(var. horizontalis and pyramidalis). Eur J Biomed Pharm Sci. 2017;4(12):430-435.
  • 31. Hosseinihashemi SK, Barzegari F, Baseri H, Barbosa LCA. Powerful antioxidants within Cupressus arizonica Greene female cones and leaves essential oil. Nat Prod Res. 2025;39(7):1783-1792.
  • 32. Balti S, Mabrouk Y, Amri I, et al. Essential oils from Cupressus arizonica Greene: chemical composition, antimicrobial and antienzymatic activity. J Essent Oil Bear Plants. 2026;29:1-20.
  • 33. Aloui F, Baraket M, Jedidi S, et al. Chemical composition, anti-radical and antibacterial activities of essential oils from needles of Pinus halepensis Mill., P. pinaster Aiton., and P. pinea L. J Essent Oil-Bear Plants. 2021;24(3):453-460.
  • 34. Shu H, Chen H, Wang X, et al. Antimicrobial activity and proposed action mechanism of 3-Carene against Brochothrix thermosphacta and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Molecules. 2019;24(18):3246.
  • 35. Han Y, Chen W, Sun Z. Antimicrobial activity and mechanism of limonene against Staphylococcus aureus. J Food Saf. 2021;41(5):e12918.
  • 36. Vuuren Sv, Viljoen AM. Antimicrobial activity of limonene enantiomers and 1, 8‐cineole alone and in combination. Flavour Fragr J. 2007;22(6):540-544.
  • 37. Moo CL, Yang SK, Osman MA, et al. Antibacterial activity and mode of action of β-caryophyllene on Bacillus cereus. Pol J Microbiol. 2020;69(1):49.
There are 36 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Other)
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Ahmet Dursun 0009-0003-1974-3277

Zeynep Akşit 0000-0002-0349-0223

Sefa Gözcü 0000-0002-0735-4229

Project Number -
Submission Date February 6, 2026
Acceptance Date March 9, 2026
Publication Date March 16, 2026
DOI https://doi.org/10.62425/pharmata.1883576
IZ https://izlik.org/JA54WZ65LD
Published in Issue Year 2026 Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Cite

EndNote Dursun A, Akşit Z, Gözcü S (March 1, 2026) Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil from Cupressus arizonica Greene Cones Against Clinical and Foodborne. Pharmata 6 1 18–23.

Content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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