GC–MS Analysis, Biological Characterization, Quorum Sensing Inhibition, and Molecular Docking of Cinnamomum camphora L.

This study evaluated the biological properties of the essential oil (EO) from Cinnamomum camphora L. leaves, revealing eucalyptol, sabinene, and alpha-terpineol as major constituents. This EO exhibited potent antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 5.79 in DPPH and 36.71 µg/mL in ABTS assays. The anti-inflammatory potential reached 67.84% at a concentration of 1600 µg/mL. Antimicrobial assays revealed significant activity against several pathogenic strains, such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with MICs ranging from 31.25 to 500 µg/mL. The EO inhibited biofilm formation by up to 76.25%, reduced bacterial motility by up to 83.33%, and suppressed the production of the quorum sensing (QS)-regulated pigment pyocyanin by 60.81%. These results indicate a potent anti-virulence strategy targeting bacterial cell-to-cell communication. Molecular docking analysis targeting the FliC protein indicated that alpha-terpineol adopts a stable conformation within the active site, closely overlapping with the reference ligand. These findings support further investigation of the therapeutic potential of C. camphora L. as a natural alternative to counteract microbial resistance.