The aim of this work was the examination of biological activity of three selected racemic cis-β-aryl-δ-iodo-γ-lactones. Tested iodolactones differed in the structure of the aromatic fragment of molecule, bearing isopropyl (1), methyl (2), or no substituent (3) on the para position of the benzene ring. A broad spectrum of biological activity as antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and hemolytic activity was examined. All iodolactones showed bactericidal activity against Proteus mirabilis, and lactones 1,2 were active against Bacillus cereus. The highest cytotoxic activity towards HeLa and MCF7 cancer cell lines and NHDF normal cell line was found for lactone 1. All assessed lactones significantly disrupted antioxidative/oxidative balance of the NHDF, and the most harmful effect was determined by lactone 1. Contrary to lactone 1, lactones 2 and 3 did not induce the hemolysis of erythrocytes after 48 h of incubation. The differences in activity of iodolactones 1–3 in biological tests may be explained by their different impact on physicochemical properties of membrane as the packing order in the hydrophilic area and fluidity of hydrocarbon chains. This was dependent on the presence and type of alkyl substituent. The highest effect on the membrane organization was observed for lactone 1 due to the presence of bulky isopropyl group on the benzene ring.

Artemisia herba-alba Asso is a medicinal plant used widely in Algerian folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases. The present work is aimed to elucidate the chemical composition of essential oil (EO) of Artemisia herba-alba. The in vitro antibacterial activity against 11 bacterial strains, and the in vivo acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity were evaluated. In this study fifty-four compounds accounting for 94.1% of total oil were identified by GC-FID and GC-MS analysis of the essential oil obtained from leaves. α-thujone (48.0%), β-thujone (13.4%), and camphor (13.1%) are found to be the major compounds. The results of the antibacterial activity using disc diffusion method revealed inhibition zones ranging from 10.00±0.0 to 36.00±0.9mm. Gram-positive was more sensitive to EO compared with Gram-negative bacteria. EO exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations and bactericidal concentrations of 2.5 mg/ml to 10 mg/ml, and 5 mg/ml to 10 mg/ml respectively. The oil was moderately toxic and belongs to category 4 according to GHS, mortality was achieved at the dose of 2000 mg/kg. EO of A. herba-alba reduced significantly the edema induced by carrageenan in rat paw at 44.07% and 44.37% (after five hours) at the doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg respectively.

This study describes the chemical composition and antibacterial activities of essential oils of Moroccan Juniperus thurifera L. var. Africana (Cupressaceae). The essential oil of dried leaves was isolated by hydrodistillation, vapohydrodistillation and microwaves. Sixty-four compounds in J. thurifera L. var. Africana oils were identified (79.9%, 92.4% and 98.4% of the oil, respectively). The most abundant compound in J. thurifera L. var. Africana oils is sabinene (38%, 36.2% and 39.4%). Antibacterial activities of J. thurifera essential oils was tested against bacteria Gram ( − ) and Gram (+). The oil is very active against all bacteria tested except Pseudomonas, which turned out to be very resistant.