The essential oil of Melaleuca leucadendra L. (Myrtaceae) from Fatick (Senegal) as a source of methyleugenol. Composition, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of Melaleuca leucadendra leaf essential oils. Ten samples of leaves from M. leucadendra were collected on the salt zone of Fatick (Senegal). The corresponding oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Oil yields from dried leaves were ranged from 1.64% to 2.75%. The almost exclusive compound in all samples of M. leucadendra oils was methyleugenol (98.4–99.5%). The oil exhibited moderate activity against S. aureus and E. coli and no activity against E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa. Anti-inflammatory properties of oil (25, 100 and 150 mg/kg, bw) showed significant inhibition of rat paw oedema induced by carrageenan at the 3rd and 5th h (p < 0.001 and 0.0001, respectively) when compared with control and standard drug (acetylsalicylic acid). The experimental study revealed that M. leucadendra oil, a natural source of methyleugenol, displayed remarkable anti-inflammatory activity.