Chilean Schinus molle has been used in traditional medicine for effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral, antitumoral, antioxidant, antispasmodic, astringent, antipyretic, cicatrizant, cytotoxic, diuretic, among others. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacological potential of Schinus molle seed essential oil extract (SM_EO) through in vitro and in silico approaches. In vitro, the antioxidant potential was analyzed, and antitumor activity was evaluated in non-tumor and human epithelial tumor cell lines. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as a model for evaluating toxicity, and the chemical composition of the SM_EO was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The oil contained four major monoterpenes: α-phellandrene (34%), β-myrcene (23%), limonene (13%), and β-phellandrene (7%). Based on quantum mechanical calculations, the reactivity of the molecules present in the SM_EO was estimated. The results indicated that α- phellandrene, β-phellandrene, and β-myrcene showed the highest nucleophilic activity. In addition, the compounds following these as candidates for antioxidant and antiproliferative activities were α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, ρ-cymene, sabinene, caryophyllene, l-limonene, and α-pinene, highlighting β-myrcene. Based on ADME-Tox properties, it is feasible to use these compounds as new drug candidates. Moreover, the antibacterial activity MIC value obtained for B. cereus was equivalent to 2 μg/mL, and for Y. enterocolitica, S. enteritidis, and S. typhimurium, the MIC value was 32.5 μg/μL. SM_EO could selectively inhibit the proliferation of human epithelial mammary tumor MCF7 cells treated with SM_EOs at 64 and 16 ug/mL—a significant increase in BCL-2 in a dose-dependent manner—and showed low toxicity against Caenorhabditis elegans (from 10 to 0.078 mg·mL⁻¹). These findings suggest that SM_EO may be a potential source of bioactive compounds, encouraging further investigation for applications in veterinary medicine, cosmetics, and sanitation.

Background/Objectives: The increasing emergence of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius has limited the effectiveness of conventional therapies for canine pyoderma, highlighting the need for alternative topical strategies. This study aimed to develop hydrogels incorporating essential oils (EOs) from Peumo (Cryptocarya alba) and Tepa (Laureliopsis philippiana) as potential topical treatments against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius skin infections in veterinary medicine. Methods: EOs were obtained by steam distillation, chemically characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and evaluated for antibacterial activity against S. pseudintermedius strains. Carbopol^®-based hydrogels incorporating the EOs of C. alba (HCA), L. philippiana (HLP), and a control vehicle (HVE) were formulated and characterized in terms of physicochemical properties, microbiological safety, and stability under accelerated and refrigerated conditions. Preclinical dermal safety was evaluated in BALB/c mice by repeated topical administration for five days. The analysis included clinical observation, skin irritation scoring, and histological analysis. Additionally, a preliminary microbiological evaluation was conducted in client-owned dogs with superficial pyoderma to assess the performance of the formulations in the target species. Skin lesion swabs were collected at baseline and after 21 days of treatment, followed by bacterial culture and automated identification using the VITEK^® system. Bacterial detection and bacterial load were evaluated to determine changes in microbiological status over the treatment period. Results: GC–MS analysis identified sabinene and eucalyptol as the main compounds in CA-EO, and linalool, eucalyptol, and safrole in L. philippiana EO. Both EOs exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against S. pseudintermedius (inhibition zones 4.9–10.8 mm; MIC ≥ 2.048 mg mL⁻¹). The hydrogels were microbiologically safe. Among formulations, HLP demonstrated superior physical stability and comparable rheological properties to the vehicle. In vivo safety evaluation demonstrated no signs of systemic toxicity, behavioral alterations, or skin irritation, and histological analysis confirmed preserved skin architecture without evidence of inflammation or tissue damage. In the preliminary microbiological evaluation in dogs, all animals were positive for Staphylococcus spp. at baseline. On Day 21, bacterial elimination was observed in the active treatment groups, but not in the HVE group, with elimination rates of 50.0% for Inveclor^® and 25.0% for both HCA and HLP. In parallel, HLP showed the highest proportion of dogs reaching minimal bacterial load levels (75%), followed by Inveclor^® (50.0%) and HCA (37.5%), whereas no dogs in the vehicle group reached this category. Conclusions: EOs from C. alba and L. philippiana presented antibacterial activity and were successfully incorporated into microbiologically safe hydrogel formulations. Notably, HLP demonstrated superior stability and a favorable preclinical safety profile, supporting its potential. In the preliminary microbiological evaluation in dogs, numerical differences in bacterial elimination and bacterial load categories were observed among groups; however, these differences were not statistically significant and should be interpreted as exploratory.

Bovine mastitis is a major bioeconomic and animal health challenge in dairy systems and is traditionally managed with intensive antibiotic therapy, contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study explored the therapeutic potential of essential oils (EOs) from two native species of the Valdivian temperate rainforest, Laureliopsis philippiana (Tepa; LP_EO) and Drimys winteri (Canelo; DW_EO), against priority mastitis pathogens. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to characterize EO composition, and in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis and the azole-resistant yeast Pichia kudriavzevii by disk diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Both EOs were dominated by monoterpenes; LP_EO was richer in oxygenated monoterpenes (eucalyptol, terpinen-4-ol), whereas DW_EO showed a pinene-rich profile (β-pinene, α-pinene). DW_EO produced significantly larger inhibition zones than LP_EO against S. aureus and P. kudriavzevii and exhibited lower MIC₅₀/MIC₉₀ values for S. aureus, S. uberis and P. kudriavzevii. Notably, DW_EO showed a higher inhibitory activity against P. kudriavzevii with a MIC₉₀ of 4 mg/mL. These findings support DW_EO as a high-potential dual-action phytotherapeutic candidate for developing formulations and complementary tools within sustainable bovine udder health and antimicrobial stewardship frameworks.