Considering the large spectrum of side effects caused by synthetic drugs and the development of natural alternatives utilizing Algerian flora, this study aimed to place a spotlight on the chemical profile and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Myrtus communis L. essential oils (MCEOs). In this study, essential oils (EOs) were collected via hydro-distillation of the plant’s leaves, and a chemical constituent analysis was performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry (GC–MS). The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging tests. The in vitro anti-inflammatory capacity was estimated by studying the antidenaturation effect using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a protein model. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was carried out by utilizing the classical model of carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats, using diclofenac (DCF) as the reference drug. Moreover, the molecular interaction of the compounds obtained from the GC–MS analysis was studied within the binding site of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) using an in silico approach as the confirmatory tool of the in vitro and in vivo experiments. The GC–MS analysis revealed that MCEOs were mainly composed of oxygenated monoterpenes (70.56%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (3.1%), sesquiterpenes (4.17%), and monoterpenes (8.75%). Furthermore, 1,8-cineole was the major compound (19.05%), followed by cis-geranyl acetate (11.74%), methyl eugenol (5.58%), α-terpineol (4.62%), and β-myrcene (4.40%). MCEOs exhibited remarkable concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity, with an IC₅₀ of 15.317 ± 0.340 µg/mL, 18.890 ± 2.190 µg/mL, and 31.877 ± 0.742 µg/mL for DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical, respectively. The significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity due to the inhibition of BSA denaturation was proportional to the EO concentration, where the highest value was recorded at 100 μg/mL with an approximately 63.35% percentage inhibition and an IC₅₀ of 60.351 ± 5.832 μg/mL. MCEOs showed a good in vivo anti-inflammatory effect by limiting the development of carrageenan-induced paw thickness. The in silico study indicated that, among the 60 compounds identified by the GC–MS analysis, 9 compounds were observed to have a high binding energy to cyclooxygenase-2 as compared to diclofenac. Our study revealed that EOs from Algerian Myrtus communis L. can be considered to be a promising candidate for alleviating many debilitating health problems and may provide new insights in the fields of drug design, agriculture, and the food industry.

Compounds derived from natural sources continue to serve as chemical scaffolds for designing prophylactic/therapeutic options for human healthcare. In this study, we aimed to systematically unravel the chemical profile and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of myrtle methanolic extract (MMEx) using in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches. High levels of TPC (415.85 ± 15.52 mg GAE/g) and TFC (285.80 ± 1.64 mg QE/g) were observed. Mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of 1,8-cineole (33.80%), α-pinene (10.06%), linalool (4.83%), p-dimethylaminobenzophenone (4.21%), thunbergol (4%), terpineol (3.60%), cis-geranyl acetate (3.25%), and totarol (3.30%) as major compounds. MMEx induced pronounced dose-dependent inhibition in all assays, and the best antioxidant activity was found with H₂O₂, with an IC₅₀ of 17.81 ± 3.67 µg.mL⁻¹. MMEx showed a good anti-inflammatory effect in vivo by limiting the development of carrageenan-induced paw edema. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the active molecules were determined using the SwissADME website, followed by virtual screening against anti-inflammatory targets including phospholipase A2 (PLA-2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and NF-κB. A pharmacokinetic study revealed that the molecules have good absorption, distribution, and metabolism profiles, with negative organ toxicity. Among the compounds identified by GC-MS analysis, pinostrobin chalcone, cinnamyl cinnamate, hedycaryol, totarol, and p-dimethylaminobenzophenone were observed to have good binding scores, thus appreciable anti-inflammatory potential. Our study reveals that MMEx from Algerian Myrtus communis L. can be considered to be a promising candidate for alleviating many health complaints associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.

Algerian propolis has shown promising biological activities, but data on its safety profile remain limited. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of an ethanolic extract of Algerian propolis (EEP), as well as its sub-chronic toxicity at an oral dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 30 days in rats. EEP exhibited high levels of total polyphenols and flavonoids with low contents of hydrolysable and condensed tannins. GC–MS analysis identified naringenin (17.48%), pinocembrin (15.62%), 3-(acetylmethyl)-β-pinene (8.23%), 3(Z)-cembrene A (6.36%) and totarol (5.78%) as major constituents. In vitro, EEP effectively scavenged superoxide anion (O₂^-), DPPH- and H₂O₂ and showed strong reducing power in the FRAP assay. In vivo, EEP limited superoxide anion generation, inhibited mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening and protected against mitochondrial swelling and apoptosis. It also preserved redox homeostasis by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as glutathione (GSH) content. Histopathological examination revealed normal liver and kidney architecture comparable to controls. In silico analyses indicated favorable pharmacokinetic properties and negative predicted organ toxicity for the main constituents. Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities toward Keap1–Nrf2 and mitochondrial targets, including the bc1 complex, Mn-SOD and cyclophilin D. Overall, these findings support the oral sub-chronic safety profile and mitochondria-protective antioxidant potential of Algerian propolis.