Chemical profiling and enzyme inhibitory properties of essential oil isolated from Artemisia judaica grown in Egypt: GC-MS analysis and in-Vitro studies

Artemisia judica L. is a desert aromatic herb with a characteristic fragrance and taste belonging to the family Asteraceae. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of essential oil isolated from A. judaica L. using GC-MS analysis, along with an investigation of its antioxidant properties and inhibitory activity against key enzymes involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s, diabetes mellitus, and skin pigmentation. GC-MS analysis of the oil revealed the identification of fourteen compounds (97.89%), predominated by piperitone (51.40%), followed by ethyl (E)-cinnamate (20.44%), (+)-2-bornanone (5.63%), and ethyl-(Z)-cinnamate (4.78%). The oil demonstrated remarkable antioxidant activities in the following order: ABTS (66.81 ± 1.49 mgTE/g)< CUPRAC (66.24 ± 0.53mgTE/g)<FRAP (58.68 ± 0.54 mgTE/g < PBD (17.81 ± 0.01 mmolTE/g (<DPPH) 8.55 ± 1.10mgTE/g(.The oil showed potent inhibitory effects against AChE and BChE at 2.14 ± 0.18 and 3.27 ± 0.04 mg GALAE/g, respectively. Further, it could inhibit tyrosinase and α-amylase at 91.20 ± 7.29 mg KAE/g and 0.28 ± 0.01 mmol ACAE/g, respectively. Thus, A. judaica oil may be utilized as adjuvant herbal therapy.