African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (4), pp. 371-374, April 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cestrum diurnum (L.) (Solanales: Solanaceae)

Bhattacharjee I., Ghosh A. and Chandra G.

Mosquito Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Burdwan University, India – 713104.

*Corresponding author.  E-mail: goutam_c@vsnl.net. goutamchandra63@yahoo.co.in.

Accepted 22 February, 2005

Cestrum diurnum (Solanaceae: Solanales) is a single or multistemmed shrub that is also known as Day Jasmine. The essential oil of the mature leaves of C. diurnum was analyzed by GLC and GLC-MS and altogether 14 components were detected. The main constituents were palmitic acid (27.62%), stearic acid (4.62%) and oleic acid (3.06%). The essential oil of mature leaves of C. diurnum were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against pathogenic strains of Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram negative (Escherichia Coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The oil showed strong in vitro activity against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.

Key words: Cestrum diurnum, antimicrobial activity, essential oil, Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria.