Abstract Cupressus sempervirens L., traditionally recognized for its medicinal uses to alleviate abdominal pain diabetes, inflammation, neuralgia, and laryngitis. Despite its extensive traditional use, limited investigations have reported its phytochemical composition and biological activities. The current study aimed at unraveling the chemical profile of Cupressus sempervirens and evaluating the biological activities of its essential oil (EO). The research meticulously characterizes the EO obtained via hydrodistillation using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). C. sempervirens EO have been assessed for their in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. The study employs a suite of methods to establish the oil’s biological efficacy: antioxidant activity was tested through DPPH, ABTS, and β -carotene assays, while the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective potential was evaluated using lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition assays. Computational docking further predicts the bioactivity of the identified compounds. The GC-MS analysis revealed that δ -3-carene (24.00%), β -myrcene (12.98%), D-limonene (10.02%), α -thujene (6.44%), and α -pinene (5.18%) as principal components of C. sempervirens EO. The results demonstrate that C. sempervirens EO not only shows substantial antioxidant activity across all assays but also exhibits significant inhibitory effects on 5-LOX (IC 50 = 0.12 ± 0.03 mg/mL) and acetylcholinesterase (IC 50 = 0.19 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Molecular docking simulation ascertained that C. sempervirens EO compounds such as δ -3-carene, D-limonene, β -myrcene, and terpinen-4-ol exhibit various types of interactions with the amino acid residues of the active site, involving pi-sigma, pi-alkyl, and Van der Waals bonds. These interactions give these compounds notable importance in terms of inhibitory power. The implications of these findings extend beyond traditional medicinal applications. The significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial neuroprotective activities of C. sempervirens EO underscore its promise in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, particularly for formulations aimed at preventing inflammation and neurological disorders.
Hamza Assaggaf (Mon,) studied this question.