ABSTRACT
Retama raetam (Forssk) Webb & Berthel is well known in the folk medicine of North and East Mediterranean regions for the treatment of microbial infections. The powdered leaves are used to heal circumcision wounds and used as an antiseptic for wounds, skin rash and pruritus. In this study, to validate this antiseptic property, the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from the flowers of R. raetam was evaluated. The oil was obtained using hydrodistillation and was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antibacterial activity was achieved using disc diffusion and broth dilution assay against six bacteria species. Analysis of the essential oil revealed the presence of ß-linalool (51%), 2-decen-1-ol (6.6%) and limonene (7.4%) as the major components. The results showed significant activity against microorganisms, especially Staphylococcus aureus, with inhibition zones and minimal inhibitory concentration values in the range of 5.0 mm and 3.0 mg mL⻹, respectively. The results on the antibacterial activity provide scientific support for the use of these plants in traditional herbal preparations.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents , Fabaceae/chemistry , Oils, Volatile , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Humans , Libya , Male , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Oils, Volatile/analysis , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Oils, Volatile/isolation & purification , Oils, Volatile/pharmacology , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Wound HealingABSTRACT
GC-MS analysis of the hydrodistilled oil of Erigeron mucronatus DC was carried out, after the separation of a crystalline compound, lachnophyllum cumulene. Twenty-four components were identified. The oil contained 59.6% sesquiterpenoids, 16.1% monoterpenoids and 24.3% poly-acetylenic esters. Among the mono and sesquiterpenoids, limonene (10.3%) and caryophyllenes (11.4%) were the major constituents. The essential oil also revealed the unusual presence of both cis (8.3%) and trans (1.1%) methyl lachnophyllum esters. Seasonal variation in the yield of E. mucronatus oil was observed. The yield varied from 0.49 to 0.58%, being highest during the rainy season. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using a method based on zones of inhibition; the oil exhibited maximum anti- bacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, but moderate activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Genotoxicity of the oil was determined in AB blood serum at different concentrations and hours of exposure. The antibacterial activity of the oil and its insignificant genotoxicity at low concentrations make the oil a good candidate as a curative agent.
