Constituents and Antimicrobial Potential of Oils from Some Medicinal Plants

Abstract

In this study five medicinal plants(Lycopersicum esculentum, Ocimum basilicum ,Sterculia setigera , Carthamus tinclorius and Prunus mahaleb) have been studied by GC-MS and the antimicrobial activity has been evaluated. Lycopersicum esculentum seed oil gave 17 constituents dominated by: i)9,12-octadecadienoic (Z,Z)- (35.16%) ii)9,12-octadecadienoic (Z,Z),acid methyl ester(19.79%) iii)9-octadecenoic acid (Z)- methyl ester (10.84%).The oil showed significant activity against Bacillus subtilis. Sterculia setigera oil showed 20 components.Major constituents are: i)-cis-9-hexadecenal (32.66%) ii)-oleic acid (20.29%). Sterculia speciesare oil showed partial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The GC-MS analysis of Carthamus tinclorius oil exhibited 21 constituents dominated by: i)9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester(55.82%) ii) hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (14.04%) iii) 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (9.32%).This oil exhibited good activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Fifty six components were detected in Ocimum basilicum oil dominated by: i-9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester(40.77%) ii-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid methyl ester(26.56%) iii-hexdecanoic acid methyl ester(14.74%) iv-methyl stearate (9.83%).However this oil failed to show any antimicrobial activity. Prunus mahaleb oil has been investigated by GC-MS. The analysis showed 40 constituents dominated by: i) 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (36.80% )ii) 9, 12-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (25.87% ) ii) hexdecanoic acid (7.91%) iv)6a,14a-methanopicene, perhydro-1,2,4a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-10-hydroxy-(4.21%).