Chemical Composition, Anti-radical and Antibacterial Activities of Essential Oils from Needles of Pinus halepensis Mill., P. pinaster Aiton., and P. pinea L

The present study aims to study the chemical composition of the essential oils from needles of three pine species: Pinus halepensis Mill., P. pinaster Aiton. and P. pinea L., and the evaluation of their in vitro anti-radical and antibacterial properties. GC-MS analysis showed that the essential oils were characterized by the abundance of monoterpene hydrocarbons (61.55-86.72 %). α-pinene, β-pinene, α-terpinolene, α-fenchene, and β-caryophyllene were the most plentiful components in P. halepensis. Limonene, α-pinene, and β-caryophyllene were particularly abundant in P. pinea and P. pinaster essential oils. The strongest DPPH-radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 73.03 μg/mL) was observed for the limonene-rich essential oils of P. pinea. The three essential oils were effective against the Gram+ bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Listeria monocytogenes and the Gram- bacteria Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli. These results suggest that P. halepensis, P. pinaster, and P. pinea could constitute a consolidated source of natural bioactive ingredients with anti-radical and antimicrobial properties.