Variability of phenolic compounds accumulation and bioactivity among Tunisian Artemisia arborescens L. genetic resources

The antibiotic resistance emergence poses a serious threat for plants, humans and animals health and resulted in significant economic costs. Plant natural products present actually an alternative for the development of antimicrobial agents. In this study the phytochemical characterisation of the hydro-ethanolic extracts of four Artemisia arboresccens L. populations in Tunisia and their antimicrobial potential against a set of nine human pathogens strains was achieved. The obtained results showed the richness of the studied extracts in total phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins with significant variation among the studied populations. The investigated extracts showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against all tested microbial strains with variable degree according to the microbial strain and the studied extract. The highest antibacterial activities were observed against the three grampositive bacterial strains while the highest antifungal potentials were revealed against the two Aspergillus fungi species. It is clear that the genetic backgrounds influence significantly the accumulation of phenolic secondary metabolites in Artemisia arborescens and then their antimicrobial potentials. Consequently, the conservation of Artemisia arborescens genetic resources to maintain the highest chemical polymorphism of this endangered species in Tunisia is required. The obtained findings promoted this species as a candidate for further investigations for the development of natural antimicrobial agents with wide applications in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries.

Automated summary

The emergence of antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to the health of plants, humans, and animals, leading to significant economic costs. Plant natural products may serve as an alternative for the development of antimicrobial agents. The phytochemical characterization of Artemisia arboresccens L. extracts in Tunisia revealed the richness of phenolics, flavonoids, and condensed tannins, showing antibacterial and antifungal activity against tested strains. The genetic backgrounds significantly influence the accumulation of phenolic secondary metabolites and antimicrobial potentials in Artemisia arborescens, promoting its conservation for further research in natural antimicrobial development.