GC-MS Studies on Seeds of Pithecellobium dolce Fixed Oil

Abstract

In the present study , the fixed oil of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.)Benth was extracted from seeds using hot continuous extraction (Soxhlet). The oil was analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GCMS) and more than 10 fatty acids were identified .the major constituent were : 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (z,z)-,methyl (23.59%) , 9- octadecadienoic acid , methyl ester , (E)-(22,65%) , methyl 20- methylheneicosanoate (13.99%),hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (12.88%). Minor constituent were tetracosanoic acid, methyl ester (7.45%), methyl stearate (5.78%), methyl 18-methyllnonadecanoate (4.33%), 11-eicosenoic acid , methyl ester (3.57%). The oil was screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities using six standard human pathogens. Agar well diffusion technique was used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the oil against tow Gram positive (Bacillus subtili and Staphylococcus aureus), two Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeroginosa) bacteria and two fungal species ( aspergillusniger and Candida albocans). The result indicate that Pithecellobium dulce oil possess bioactive compounds having significant antimicrobial properties.