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ARTICLE

GC-MS Analysis and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Potential of Pimenta dioica Flower Essential Oil

Heba A. S. El-Nashar^1,*, Ahmed T. Negmeldin^2,3,*, Aziza El Baz⁴, Marizé Cuyler⁵, Brandon Alston⁵, Namrita Lall^5,6,7, Naglaa S. Ashmawy^1,8,*

1 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, 4184, United Arab Emirates
3 Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
4 Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorization, URL—CNRST n° 10, Faculty of Sciences, ChouaiDoukkali University, P.O. Box 20, El Jadida, 24000, Morocco
5 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
6 School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
7 College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Bonne Terre, Vacoas-Phoenix, 73304, Mauritius
8 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Dubai Medical University, Dubai, 19996, United Arab Emirates

* Corresponding Authors: Heba A. S. El-Nashar. Email: ; Ahmed T. Negmeldin. Email: ; Naglaa S. Ashmawy. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovative Approaches in Experimental Botany: Essential Oils as Natural Therapeutics)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(10), 3269-3281. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.067998

Received 19 May 2025; Accepted 01 August 2025; Issue published 29 October 2025

Abstract

Pimenta dioica is a tropical Caribbean tree belonging to the family Myrtaceae, widely used in various human activities, including perfume production, food flavoring, natural pesticides, and medicine. This study aimed to explore the chemical composition of Pimenta dioica flower essential oil obtained via hydrodistillation using GC-MS analysis. Additionally, the oil’s tyrosinase inhibitory activity was investigated. The effectiveness of the oil’s major constituents in binding to tyrosinase was also evaluated through molecular docking simulations. GC-MS analysis identified fifteen compounds, with eugenol (70.59%) as the major component, followed by β-myrcene (10.54%), limonene (8.55%), β-ocimene (4.92%), α-phellandrene (1.39%), and linalool (1.46%). The oil exhibited tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 28.65 ± 0.77 μg/mL, compared to kojic acid (IC₅₀ = 1.94 ± 0.53 μg/mL). It also showed moderate antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ of 5.41 ± 0.68 μg/mL, relative to quercitrin (0.78 ± 0.37 μg/mL). Molecular docking studies revealed that the six identified constituents exhibited good binding affinity and fitting to the tyrosinase active site, as indicated by docking scores and specific interactions. These interactions likely contribute to the overall inhibitory effect through multiple binding modes. The findings suggest that the monoterpene content plays a crucial role in the observed inhibitory activity and enhance our understanding of natural compounds as potential therapeutics for tyrosinase-related disorders. Therefore, P. dioica flower essential oil may represent a safe and effective natural source of skin-whitening agents for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Further investigations, including in vivo studies, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity profiling, are recommended.

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