Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Oils from Five Medicinal Herbs

Abstract

This research was designed to study the seed oils of five potential medicinal plants. (Carum carvi, Coriandrum sativum, Hibiscus sabdariffa )grown in Egypt(; Nerium oleander, Lagenaria siceraria)grown in Sudan). The constituents of the target oils have been studied by GC-MS and the antimicrobial activity has been evaluated. 9-Octadecanoic acid methyl ester appeared in different ratios for all samples except for Legenaria siceraria which contained a component (linoleic acid ethyl ester) which is absent in the rest of oil samples. 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid methyl ester appeared in the five oils at different ratios, also all the studied oils contained different ratios of hexadecanoic acid methyl ester. Methyl stearate appeared at different ratios in all oil samples with the exception of carum carvi oil which contained a constituent – 10-nonadecanone- which is absent in other studied oils. All oil samples have been evaluated for antimicrobial activity and they showed different antimicrobial responses.