Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Aloysia gratissima (Verbenaceae) leaf essential oil

• Published in: The Journal of essential oil research Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 125 - 130
• Main Authors: Santos, Thalita G, Laemmle, Jerusa, Rebelo, Ricardo A, Dalmarco, Eduardo M, Cruz, Alexandre B, Schmit, Ana P, Cruz, Rosana C.B, Zeni, Ana L.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 04-03-2015
• Subjects: Aloysia; Aloysia gratissima; anti-infective agents; antibacterial; antifungal; antifungal properties; antioxidant activities; antioxidant activity; Bacillus cereus; beta-caryophyllene; beta-pinene; butylated hydroxytoluene; chemical composition; cineole; essential oil; essential oils; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; GC-MS; germacrene; hydrodistillation; leaves; oils; Trichophyton mentagrophytes
• ISSN: 2163-8152; 1041-2905; 2163-8152
• DOI: 10.1080/10412905.2015.1006737

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of Aloysia gratissima (Gill. et Hook) Tronc. essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation lead to the identification of twenty-two compounds. The major compounds found in this study were 1,8-cineole (13.7%), germacrene D (13.4%), β-caryophyllene (12.7%) and β-pinene (11.7%). The oil demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal activities against mainly Bacillus cereus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes . Aloysia gratissima oil was also screened for its antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical; however, it was less effective than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). These findings suggest feasible application of A . gratissima essential oil as an antimicrobial agent and its chemical characteristic may lead to the extraction of active compounds in isolated or combined forms with useful applications.