Abstract
Helichrysum genus was used in folk South African medicine to treat various human disorders. As a part of our on-going research addressing the exploitation of South African plants belonging to this genus, five species were investigated for their volatile and antimicrobial activities. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the essential oils (EOs) were analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Microdilution was the method used for assessing both antimycotic and antibacterial activities, which was also tested by Kirby-Bauer agar disc diffusion. Total monoterpenes (TMs) dominated the VOCs of four species (H. trilineatum (70.6%), H. edwardsii (79.3%), H. cooperi (84.5%), and H. pandurifolium (57.0%)). H. cooperi and H. edwardsii EOs showed the predominance of TMs (68.2% and 84.5%, respectively), while H. pandurifolium and H. trilineatum EOs were characterized by the prevalence of TSs (86.5% and 43.6%, respectively). H. odoratissimum EO evidenced a similar amount of both TMs (49.5%) and TSs (46.4%). Microsporum canis was more sensitive to these EOs. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was observed with H. pandurifolium and H. edwardsii EOs (0.25%). H. pandurifolium and H. trilineatum had a good effect on Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 5%). These findings open new perspectives for the exploitation of these natural compounds for application in cosmetics and pharmaceutics.
Highlights
Among the 600 species listed in the Helichrysum genus (Asteraceae family), almost forty percent occur in South Africa
Orticoltura e Florovivaismo) in Sanremo (Italy), we focused on the exploitation of South African
The amount ranged from 54.7% in H. pandurifolium to more than 69% of the total identified fraction in H. trilineatum
Summary
Among the 600 species listed in the Helichrysum genus (Asteraceae family), almost forty percent occur in South Africa. Few new species were investigated even though new reports were present in the literature to consolidate and confirm what was previously found in the species and already cited; Lourens et al Mamabolo [4], for example, have evaluated the antigonorrhea and cytotoxicity of H. caespititium (DC.) Harv. This species together with H. odoratissumum L.
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