Ammoides pusilla (Apiaceae) essential oil: Activity against Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff

Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba genus that causes several diseases namely, amoebic keratitis which is a painful sight threatening eyes disease. Its treatment is difficult and the exploration for new drugs is very important. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the chemical composition of the Essential Oils (EO) obtained from leaves and flowers and aerial parts of Ammoides pusilla by an alternative method "Hydrodistillation''. Identification and quantification were realized by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID). The main components of leaves and flowers and aerials parts were thymol (39.6% and 33.05%), γ-terpinene (28.97% and 28.19%), p-cymene (13.69% and 15.31%) and thymol methyl ether (7.33% and 8.91%), respectively. The antiparasitic activity of the EO was evaluated against Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff by the Alamar Blue^® assay. Results showed that Ammoides pusilla amoebicidal activity from leaves and flowers essential oil (IC₅₀ = 65.32 ± 5.43 μg/mL) was more important than those of aerial parts EO (IC₅₀ = 97.18 ± 1.43 μg/ml).