The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition and to evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial effects of the Moroccan Artemisia herba-alba Asso essential oil against foodborne pathogens. The essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity was assessed against three bacterial strains isolated from foodstuff and three bacterial strains referenced by the ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) using the disk diffusion assay and the macrodilution method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl) method. The fourteen compounds of the Artemisia herba-alba essential oil were identified; the main components were identified as β-thujone, chrysanthenone, α-terpineol, α-thujone, α-pinene, and bornyl acetate. The results of the antibacterial activity obtained showed a sensitivity of the different strains to Artemisia herba-alba essential oil with an inhibition diameter of 8.50 to 17.00 mm. Concerning the MICs (minimum inhibitory concentrations), the essential oil exhibited much higher antibacterial activity with MIC values of 2.5 μl/ml against Bacillus subtilis ATCC and Lactobacillus sp. The essential oil was found to be active by inhibiting free radicals with an IC50 (concentration of an inhibitor where the response is reduced by half) value of 2.9 μg/ml. These results indicate the possible use of the essential oil on food systems as an effective inhibitor of foodborne pathogens, as a natural antioxidant, and for potential pharmaceutical applications. However, further research is needed in order to determine the toxicity, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects in edible products.
