Composition and anti-inflammatory effect of the common myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) essential oil growing wild in Algeria

This study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of the common myrtle ( Myrtus communis L.) essential oil. The composition of Myrtus communis L. essential oil, extracted by steam distillation, was characterized by a high fraction (80.9%) of oxygenated monoterpenes. The major components were myrtenyl acetate (38.7%), eucalyptol (12.7%), α -pinene (13.7%), and linalool (7.00%). The chemical profile of this essential oil allows us to classify it as myrtényle acétate/ α -pinène chemotype, but with atypical proportions, related to the harvesting area. In the carrageenan-induced paw edema, five different groups were established and the essential oil was administered orally in three different doses. The common myrtle essential oil (100 mg/kg) was able to reduce the paw edema, with a comparable effect to that observed with diclofenac (positive control). This is the first report to demonstrate a significant anti-inflammatory activity of Algerian common myrtle essential oil.