ASSESSMENT OF BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF RESIN EXTRACTED FROM TUNISIAN PINE FORESTS

The pine resin is a natural product highly demanded in the chemical industry. The pine resin tapping is a non-existing activity in Tunisia. Extraction and commercialization of this product can improve the livelihood of Tunisian families living within the forest areas and provide additional income for more one million-forest populations. The aim of the current study was to promote this activity on the field and to identify the best practices of resin tapping taking into account the national context of Tunisian pine forests. Besides, the present paper evaluates the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of three pine species Pinus pinaster, pinea and halepensis. These observational studies and experimental trials were carried out in the forests of Tabarka in the North western of Tunisia. The borehole method was employed using a drilling machine adapted to pine resin tapping. Our results suggest that maritime pine was the major resin production, followed by Aleppo pine and Stone pine with 50, 30, and 20% resin yield, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the gum resin has been tested In vitro by the DPPH test. The strongest anti-free radical capacity was recorded in Pinus pinea with the highest activity (IC50 = 15 +/- 0.59 mg/mL), while Pinus halepensis is characterized by a moderate antioxidant capacity (IC50 = 17 +/- 0.11 mg/mL). The antibacterial capacity of the gum resin was studied In vitro using the well diffusion method on the four bacterial strains Bacillus, Escherichia coli, Listeria and Salmonella. Variance analysis showed that the resin of Pinus pinea was the most effective in bacterial inhibition with an average inhibition zone diameter (2.13 cm) against Pinus halepensis and Pinus pinaster with 1.60cm and 1.46 cm respectively. Pine resin showed an interesting biological activity and can be used as antioxidant and antibacterial applications.