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The composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of the resurrection plant Myrothamnus flabellifolius
AM Viljoen, ME Klepser, EJ Ernst, D Keele, E Roling, S van Vuuren, B Demirci, KHC Baser, B-E van Wyk
Abstract
An investigation of the antibacterial and antifungal activity of Myrothamnus
flabellifolius against eleven different pathogens showed inhibition of
all micro-organisms except for Salmonella typhimurium and Alternaria
alternata.
A preliminary screening was done by the disc diffusion method and three susceptible
organisms were selected to demonstrate the rapid onset of antimicrobial activity
using time-kill methodology. Essential oil concentrations, ranging from 0.0625%
to 2%, exhibited strong fungicidal activity against Candida albicans and
were found to be bacteriostatic against Staphylococcus aureus with
microbiocidal effects increasing in a concentration-dependant manner. Essential
oil rapidly
reduced viable counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa but regrowth was noted
after 24 hours. The results have been generated in duplicate in two separate
microbiology
laboratories using different time-kill methods and the results are in agreement.
Eighty-five compounds were identified by GC-MS in the hydro-distilled essential
oils which contained pinocarvone and trans-pinocarveol as the major terpenoids.
The antimicrobial properties of the essential oil are presented as a possible
rationale for the traditional use of the resurrection bush, Myrothamnus
flabellifolius in African herbal medicinal preparations.
South African Journal of Botany 2002,
68: 100–105
flabellifolius against eleven different pathogens showed inhibition of
all micro-organisms except for Salmonella typhimurium and Alternaria
alternata.
A preliminary screening was done by the disc diffusion method and three susceptible
organisms were selected to demonstrate the rapid onset of antimicrobial activity
using time-kill methodology. Essential oil concentrations, ranging from 0.0625%
to 2%, exhibited strong fungicidal activity against Candida albicans and
were found to be bacteriostatic against Staphylococcus aureus with
microbiocidal effects increasing in a concentration-dependant manner. Essential
oil rapidly
reduced viable counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa but regrowth was noted
after 24 hours. The results have been generated in duplicate in two separate
microbiology
laboratories using different time-kill methods and the results are in agreement.
Eighty-five compounds were identified by GC-MS in the hydro-distilled essential
oils which contained pinocarvone and trans-pinocarveol as the major terpenoids.
The antimicrobial properties of the essential oil are presented as a possible
rationale for the traditional use of the resurrection bush, Myrothamnus
flabellifolius in African herbal medicinal preparations.
South African Journal of Botany 2002,
68: 100–105
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South African Journal of Botany. ISSN: 0254-6299