Abstract
Bacterial resistance has been increasingly reported worldwide and is one of the major causes of failure in the treatment of infectious diseases. Natural-based products, including plant secondary metabolites (phytochemicals), can be exploited to ameliorate the problem of microbial resistance. The fruit essential oils of Alchornea cordifolia and Canthium subcordatum were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils were subjected to in vitro antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activity screening. Thirty-eight compounds comprising 97.7% of A. cordifolia oil and forty-six constituents representing 98.2% of C. subcordatum oil were identified. The major components in A. cordifolia oil were methyl salicylate (25.3%), citronellol (21.4%), α-phellandrene (7.4%), terpinolene (5.7%) and 1,8-cineole (5.5%). Benzaldehyde (28.0%), β-caryophyllene (15.5%), (E,E)-α-farnesene (5.3%) and methyl salicylate (4.5%) were the quantitatively significant constituents in C. subcordatum fruit essential oil. A. cordifolia essential oil demonstrated potent in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 78 μg/mL) and marginal antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger (MIC = 156 μg/mL). C. subcordatum showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus and S. aureus (MIC = 156 μg/mL) and notable antifungal activity against A. niger (MIC = 39 μg/mL). However, no appreciable cytotoxic effects on human breast carcinoma cells (Hs 578T) and human prostate carcinoma cells (PC-3) were observed for either essential oil. The antimicrobial activities of A. cordifolia and C. subcordatum fruit essential oils are a function of their distinct chemical profiles; their volatiles and biological activities are reported for the first time.
Highlights
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious public health threats that results mostly from the selective pressure exerted by antibiotic use and abuse [1,2]
The antimicrobial activities of A. cordifolia and C. subcordatum fruit essential oils are a function of their distinct chemical profiles; their volatiles and biological activities are reported for the first time
As part of an ongoing search for biologically active essential oils from the rain forest biodiversity of Nigeria, we report the antibacterial and antifungal activities of volatile constituents from the aromatic fresh fruits of A. cordifolia and C. subcordatum
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious public health threats that results mostly from the selective pressure exerted by antibiotic use and abuse [1,2]. (Euphorbiaceae) is a shrub found along the coastal regions of West Africa It has multipurpose utilization as fodder, food and medicine. The leaves, roots and stem bark extracts are used extensively in traditional medicine in the preparation of drugs for urinary, respiratory and gastro intestinal disorders [7]. Leaves and stem bark are used for medicinal purposes. A number of iridoids, which include (6S,9R)-roseoside [24] and shanzhisin methyl ester gentiobioside [25] have been isolated from the stem-bark of C. subcordatum and their structures deduced. As part of an ongoing search for biologically active essential oils from the rain forest biodiversity of Nigeria, we report the antibacterial and antifungal activities of volatile constituents from the aromatic fresh fruits of A. cordifolia and C. subcordatum
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