Toxicological and pharmacological properties of essential oils of Calamintha nepeta, Origanum virens and Thymus mastichina of Alentejo (Portugal)

Three autochthonous flavouring herbs from Alentejo (Portugal), Calamintha nepeta (syn. Clinopodium nepeta), Origanun virens and Thymus mastichina, were selected to evaluate toxicological, antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimicrobial potential of their essential oils (EOs). C. nepeta and T. mastichina EOs showed a high content of oxygenated monoterpenes (86–91%) while O. virens had similar content of oxygenated and hydrocarbon monoterpenes (45%). Toxicological assessment suggests high activity against A. salina (31.8 < CL50 < 128.4 mg/L) and very low toxicity in Swiss mice (DL50≥1500 mg/kg). EOs showed high antioxidant ability by DPPH radical scavenging assay (0.1–0.6 mg QE/mL EO), total reducing power method (0.2–1.7 mg QE/mL EO) and β-carotene/ linoleic acid system (11–501 mg QE/mL EO). An important antiproliferative effect against human breast tumour cell line was observed (88.9 < EC50 < 108.5 mg/L). Moreover, EOs presented a large antibacterial spectrum. Results point out the low toxicity and high antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities of EOs of these endemic aromatic plants, suggesting their potential use in biotechnological, food and/or pharmaceutical industries