Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of essential oils of Melaleuca alternifolia from Senegal

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition of three essential oil samples obtained from the leaves of M. alternifolia (Myrtaceae) collected in Kaolack (Senegal) and to assess their in vivo anti-inflammatory activity.The corresponding oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS.The antiinflammatory activity of the essential oil was evaluated by carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema method.Oil yields from dried leaves were ranged from 1.5 to 1.8%.The essential oils mainly consisted of terpinen-4-ol (28.8-33.0%),followed by geranial (18.1-19.6%),neral (12.0-12.4%),p-cymene (9.8-11.3%)and -terpinene (8.7-9.6%).The essential oil administered per os very significantly prevented the development of inflammatory edema of the rat paw induced by carrageenan at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg.The effect observed was most pronounced between 3 and 5 hours.It was dosedependent between 25 and 50 mg/kg.The activity at 50 mg/kg was greater and identical to that of aspirin, used as a reference molecule and administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg.We can conclude that the essential oil of M. alternifolia possesses potential antiinflammatory activity, supporting the traditional application of this plant in treating various diseases associated with inflammation.