Dioecy impacts the chemical profile and biological activities of essential oils from leaves of Pistacia lentiscus L.

A comparative study on the chemical composition and biological properties of essential oils from male and female plants of Pistacia lentiscus essential oils is presented. The analysis highlights the predominance of hydrocarbon monoterpenes across all samples, with the essential oil from female plants exhibiting the greatest diversity of molecules and the highest antioxidant activity, as assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The antimicrobial tests reveal that essential oils from female plant show the strongest activity against Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, while essential oils from male plant are most effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus niger. Antileishmanial assays demonstrate a moderate activity against axenic amastigotes of Leishmania major and L. donovani, with essential oils from female plants showing the strongest activity. Furthermore, cytotoxicity tests showed low toxicity for both oils. These results underscore the significant influence of dioecy on the chemical and biological properties of essential oils, emphasizing the need for gender-specific selection of plants for targeted applications.