Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Genista ulicina and G. vepres

Nat Prod Commun. 2010 May;5(5):835-8.

Abstract

The hydrodistilled oils from the aerial parts of Genista ulicina Spach. and G. vepres Pomel., which are endemic to Algeria, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the oil of G. ulicina, 41 compounds were identified representing 90.8% of the total oil, and in G. vepres, 61 compounds representing 84.5% of the total oil. The analyses showed that the major constituents of the oils were lauric acid (14.3%-8.5%), myristic acid (11.5%-5%), linoleic acid (3.1%-11.7%) and palmitic acid (18.6%-26.4%). Using a diffusion method, the oils showed significant antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algeria
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Genista / chemistry*
  • Oils, Volatile / analysis*
  • Oils, Volatile / isolation & purification
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / analysis*
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Extracts