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COMPOSITION, ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES AND ANTIBACTERIAL PRESERVATION POTENTIAL OF ALGERIAN MYRTUS NIVELLEI ESSENTIAL OIL

BANKADDOUR ZERAGUI 1,2, NOUREDDINE HALLA 1,2, YASMINA BENABDESSLEM 1,3 , ILYES CHIKHI 4, KADDA HACHEM 1,5*

1 Laboratory of Biotoxicology, Pharmacognosy and Biological Valorisation of Plants (LBPVBP), Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Saida - Dr Moulay Tahar, Saida, Algeria
2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Saida - Dr Moulay Tahar, Saida, Algeria
3 Department of Agronomy and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Saida - Dr. Moulay Tahar, Saida, Algeria
4 Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry (LAC), Faculty of Sciences Technology, University of Ain Temouchent Belhadj Bouchaib, Ain Temouchent, Algeria
5 Higher Normal School of Saida, Saida, Algeria

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This study investigated the chemical composition and biological properties of essential oil obtained from Algerian Myrtus nivellei leaves (MNEO) and evaluated its potential as a natural preservative in cosmetic formulations. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A total of 33 compounds were identified, representing 96.12% of the oil composition, with 1,8-cineole as the major component (61.9%). Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power assays, with IC₅₀ and EC₅₀ values of 3.04 mg/mL and 3.08 mg/mL, respectively. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against com- mon cosmetic contaminants and preservative efficacy was further examined using a shampoo model over 28 days. The results suggest that MNEO may represent a promising natural ingredient for cosmetic preservation.