Biological activity and phytoconstituents of essential oil from fresh leaves of <i>Eriosema englerianum</i>

Abstract

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.