Characterization of Leaves Essential oil of Pelargonium graveolens Originating from Tunisia: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Biological Activities

Pelargonium graveolens essential oil was extracted from dried leaves by a clevenger apparatus and the composition of this essential oil was analyzed by GC-MS. The main results showed that P. graveolens essential oil was characterized by the predominance of two compounds: citronellol and geraniol with respective amounts of 27.53 and 25.85 %. In addition to that, P. graveolens essential oil was characterized by the predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes (70.64 %) which were followed by sesquiterpenes (11.88 %), acids (1.76 %) and hydrocarbon monoterpenes (2.02 %). Other compounds were detected with an amount of 11.83 %. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of this volatile oil was assessed by DPPH test. We also tested its biological activity against some microorgnisms: Escherichia Coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) and also a fungi: Candida albicans (ATCC 10231). According to the results of DPPH test, The essential oil of P. graveolens was able to release free groups with a high capacity to oxidize free radicals of DPPH molecule. The antibacterial assay showed that P. graveolens essential oil was active against all the tested microorganisms with a more pronounced effect against Candida albicans and Bacillus subtilis.