Phytochemistry and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Ferula latisecta Rech. f. & Aellen. oleo-gum resin

Abstract

Ferula latisecta belongs to the Ferula genus and is endemic to Iran. The present study aims to extract the essential oil of F. latisecta oleo-gum-resin for the first time and evaluate its phytochemistry and antimicrobial activity. The essential oil was extracted using a Clevenger-type hydrodistillation apparatus. The essential oil constituents were identified and quantified using GC and GC/MS methods. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was assayed against two Gram-negative bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, and a fungal strain, Candida krusei using the broth microdilution method to determine MIC and MBC values. The results showed that the essential oil was rich in β- and α-pinene with 30.72% and 25.07% content, respectively. Additionally, the essential oil contained a significant amount of sulfur-containing compounds (7.49%) such as (E)-sec-butyl propenyl disulfide (4.21%), (Z)-sec-butyl propenyl disulfide (2.34%), and hexamethylene sulfide (0.94%). According to the results, the essential oil exhibited high inhibitory activity against C. krusei fungi, with MIC and MBC values of 2 μg/mL, which were more potent than amphotericin B (MIC: 8 and MBC: 32 μg/mL), as a standard antifungal agent. Additionally, the essential oil showed significant antibacterial activity against A. baumannii, with MIC and MBC values of 32 μg/mL, which were more potent than cefixime. Furthermore, the essential oil exhibited moderate activity against S. aureus with MIC and MBC values of 16 μg/mL. This study introduces a new oleo-gum resin from F. latisecta, with a high content of terpenoids and strong antimicrobial potency.