Abstract
Hydrodistilled volatile oil obtained from the aerial parts of Cymbopogon schoenanthus cultivated near Illizi, Algeria, was analyzed by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). More than twenty compounds were identified, representing 94.636% of the total oil. The major constituents of essential oil were piperitone (63.35%), β-eudesmol (9.305%) and elemol (6.915%). Isolated essential oil was tested for radical-scavenging ability using the stable 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, the 2,2'-azino-bis (ABTS) radical and for reducing power ability with a test based on the reduction of ferric cations (FRAP). In all tests, oil did not show a prominent antioxidant activity. The screening of antimicrobial activity of oil was individually evaluated against representatives of gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and fungi, using the agar diffusion method. All tested microorganisms were inhibited by the essential oil of C. schoenanthus. Key words: C. schoenanthus, essential oil, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity.
Highlights
The use of plants for treating diseases is as old as the human species
Hydrodistilled volatile oil obtained from the aerial parts of Cymbopogon schoenanthus cultivated near Illizi, Algeria, was analyzed by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID)
A total of 35 compounds were detected in the study essential oil extracted from C. schoenantus but just 24 compounds were identified which accounted for 94.636 % of the essential oil (Table 1)
Summary
The use of plants for treating diseases is as old as the human species. Popular observations on the use and efficacy of medicinal plants significantly contribute to the disclosure of their therapeutic properties, so that they are frequently prescribed, even if their chemical constituents are not always completely known. Active compounds produced during secondary vegetal metabolism are usually responsible for the biological properties of some plant species used throughout the globe for various purposes, including treatment of infectious diseases. Data on the antimicrobial activity of numerous plants, so far considered empirical, have been scientifically confirmed (Silva et al, 2010). In Sahara of Algeria, the flora is very rich in medicinal plants which produce valuable natural substances such as essential oil.
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