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Biological activity and
phytoconstituents of essential oil from fresh leaves of
Eriosema englerianum
Mmbengwa, V.1, Samie, A.2*,
Gundidza, M.3, Matikiti, V.3,
Ramalivhana, N. J.4 and Magwa, M.L.5
1Department
of Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology, University
of South Africa, Private bag X6, Florida, Johannesburg,
South Africa.
2Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou
0950, South Africa.
3School
of therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical
School, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South
Africa.
4College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of South
Africa, Pretoria, Johannesburg, South Africa.
5Department
of Botany and Electron Microscope Unit, University of Fort
Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape, South
Africa.
*Corresponding author. E mail:
samieamidou@yahoo.com.
Accepted
1 August, 2008 |
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Essential oil was extracted from fresh leaves of Eriosema
englerianum by hydrodistillation and its major
phytoconstituents determined by GC-MS. The major
phytoconstituents were O-cymene, terpinolene and ascaridole
with a yield of 0.28%. Antimicrobial activity of the oil was
tested against nine human bacterial pathogens and three
opportunistic fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus
niger and Aspergillus flavus). The essential oil
showed anti-oxidant activity with mean zone of colour
retention of 14.4 mm and good antibacterial and antifungal
activities. Results of present study revealed that the fresh
leaves of E. englerianum yield essential oil which
contains medicinal properties.
Key
words:
Antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, essential oil. |
