Chemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils from the Aerial Parts of Ferulago angulata (Schlecht.) Boiss and Ferulago bernardii Tomk. & M. Pimen from Different Parts of Iran

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to evaluate chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of essential oils from the aerial parts of Ferulago angulata (Schlecht.) Boiss and Ferulago bernardii Tomk. & M. Pimen collected from four different parts of Iran (Ilam, Lorestan, Kermanshah and Kurdestan regions). The chemical compositions of the essential oils were identified by means of gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer detector (GC-MS). The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were examined by micro-dilution method and agar disk diffusion assays. The antioxidant activities were measured by DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay. α-Pinene was the most abundant component in oil samples of Ilam, Lorestan and Kermanshah regions represented by 35.03%, 34.45% and 28.43%, respectively, but Z-β-ocimene was the most abundant component in oil obtained oil from Kurdestan samples (27.9%). The essential oils exhibited moderate level of antibacterial activity against the test microorganisms. E. feacalis followed by M. luteus, were the most sensitive bacteria. The most resistant bacterium was K. pneumoniae. The essential oil of F. angulata collected in Kurdestan region showed the most antibacterial activity against growth of all tested bacteria. In the case of DPPH assay, the essential oil of Lorestan sample had the highest activity (IC50 = 11.70 ± 0.217 mg/ml) followed by Ilam (IC50 = 14.13 ± 0.526 mg/ml), Kurdestan (IC50 = 14.87 ± 0.248 mg/ml) and Kemanshah (IC50 = 16.90 ± 0.214 mg/ml) oil samples. The IC50 value of quercetin was 4.96 ± 0.026 μg/ml. Our findings indicate that F. angulata and F. bernardii essential oils have potentials to be applied as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents.