ABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to determine the chemical profile and assess in vitro the antibacterial activity of the leaves, resin and stem-barks of Dacryodes edulis. The essential oils were analyzed simultaneously by Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry. Agar diffusion well and microdilution methods were used to assay the antibacterial activity. The resin essential oil contained p-cymene (30.32%), α-thujene (28.58%), α-phellandrene (27.14%) and β-phellandrene (10.16%) as the main components; the stem-barks essential oil had as abundant components p-cymene (35.14%), trans-carveol (22.60%), α-thujene (14.86%), β-phellandrene (8.65%) and β-elemene (5.22%). The leaves essential oil was distinct with elemol (29.22%), caryophyllene oxide (15.26%), trans-carveol (11.80%) and spathulenol (6.28%) as major components. The leaves essential oil was the most active with MIC and MBC value of 18.75 mg/mL on B. cereus; the most susceptible strain. The stem-barks essential oil had a MIC of 50 mg/mL and MBC of 100 mg/mL on all the strains meanwhile the resin essential oil had a bacteriostatic effect at 200 mg/mL. Based on these results, it emanates that the essential oils of D. edulis represent a potential source of antibacterial substances.