Full Length Research Paper

The chemical composition and biological activities of essential oil from the fresh leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius from Zimbabwe

M. Gundidza¹, N. Gweru¹, M. L. Magwa² and V. Mmbengwa³ and A. Samie⁴*

¹School of therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

²Department of Botany and Electron Microscope Unit, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

³Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences and Engineering, Technikon South Africa, Private Bag X6, Florida 1710, Johannesburg, South Africa.

⁴Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

*Corresponding author. E mail: samieamidou@yahoo.com or samie.amidou@univen.ac.za. Tel: +27159628186. Cell: +27760952916

Fax: +27 15 962 8648.

Accepted 7 July, 2009

   Abstract

In the present study, the essential oil from the fresh leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius was extracted using the hydrodistillation method. The oil yield obtained was 0.65%. Gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of the essential oil showed that the major constituents of the essential oil were sabinene, α-pinene, α-phellandrene, β-pinene, terpinene-4-ol, trans-β-ocimene and myrcene. Using the hole-plate diffusion testing method, the essential oil exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Yersinia enterocolitica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsielia pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis with at least 58% inhibition compared to the positive control. The mycelium growth inhibition method was used for anti-fungal testing. The essential oil exhibited activity against Aspergillus flavus with 58% inhibition, Candida albicans with 49.8% inhibition and Aspergillus niger with 48.7% inhibition. The β-carotene, acetone and linoleic acid method was used to assess the antioxidant activity of the essential oil. The essential oil showed anti-oxidant activity of 13.1 mm mean zone of colour retention representing 72.7% activity compared to the positive control (ascorbic acid). This is the first study on S. terebinthifolius collected from sub-saharan Africa indicating the presence of trans-β-ocimene in the essential oil and its strong antibacterial activity against Y. enterocolitica and P. aeruginosa as well as moderate antifungal activities of the plant.

Key words: Essential oil, Schinus terebinthifolius, Zimbabwe, antimicrobial activity, bacteria, fungi, antioxidant.