Ecological Value of Ormenis mixta Essential Oil from Pre-Rif Morocco as a Natural Antifungal Agent for Sustainable Agriculture
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Growing concerns regarding the environmental and health impacts of synthetic pesticides have stimulated increasing interest in plant-derived antimicrobial agents as sustainable alternatives. In this study, the essential oil (EO) of Ormenis mixta collected from the Pre-Rif region (Taza, Morocco) was extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and chemically characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the broth microdilution method according to CLSI guidelines against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and the opportunistic yeast Candida albicans. The EO yield reached 0.55% (w/w). Chemical analysis revealed a composition dominated by aromatic hydrocarbons (51.18%) and polycyclic aromatic compounds (20.89%), whereas oxygenated monoterpenes were detected in lower proportions. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was recorded against C. albicans (6.50 ± 0.76 mg/mL), indicating notable antifungal activity. Gram-positive bacteria exhibited moderate susceptibility, while Gram-negative strains were comparatively less sensitive, likely due to structural differences in their outer membranes. Molecular docking analysis further suggested that major aromatic constituents, particularly hydrogenated anthracene and trimethyl-substituted naphthalene derivatives, may contribute to membrane-related antimicrobial interactions. Overall, these findings describe a distinct Pre-Rif chemotype of O. mixta and provide experimental evidence supporting its potential as a natural antimicrobial agent. The results offer a scientific foundation for future ecological, toxicological, and field-based evaluations aimed at integrating this essential oil into sustainable agricultural and environmental management strategies.
Source: Research in Ecology
Institutions: Université Ibn-Tofail, Mohammed V University
Language: English
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7159647873