Essential oil: Extraction processes & Biological activities

The objective of this work is to study the impact of different extraction processes on the yield, chemical composition, antioxidant activity and insecticidal power of Eucalyptus salubris essential oils against Sitophilus oryzae adults. Three extraction processes of essential oils were tested: a conventional or traditional method simple hydrodistillation (HS) and two new or modern methods ultrasound assisted extraction (UEA) and microwave assisted extraction (MEA). In addition, the collections were made in two arboerta of the region of Gabes El-hamma and Zrig. The insecticidal power of these essential oils was evaluated by fumigation tests against adults of S. oryzae. The results showed that the fumigant power depends on the harvesting region, the extraction process, the concentration and the exposure time. Antioxidant activity results showed that the E. salubris oils tested had significant antioxidant activity that varied with the collection region as well as the extraction processes.