Abstract
In this study, the essential oils of seeds and leaves from Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito L) were profiled and screened for their antimicrobial potential. The volatile oils were isolated by means of hydro-distillation process using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The oils were analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity of the isolated essential oils was investigated by agar well diffusion method against seven bacterial isolates and two fungal isolates. A total of thirty-one chemical constituents were identified in essential oil of leaves with β-ocimene (12.37%), TMTT 1,3,7,11-Tridecatetraene (9.73%), α-farnesene (9.19%) and cyclofenchene (7.16%) as major components. Twenty-eight compounds were characterised in the seeds oil with citral (36.60%), Geranial, (28.50%) and (E)-3,7-Dimethylocta-3,6-dienal (10.82%) as main constituents. The two oils contained beta and alpha ocimene, cyclofenchene and pelargonaldehyde in common. The lowest MIC observed with essential oil of the leaves was 0.781251 mg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus and 1.625 mg/mL for Escherichia coli. The lowest MIC recorded for essential oil of the seeds was 12.5 mg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Essential oil obtained from leaves exhibited higher antimicrobial and antifungal activities against all tested organisms than essential oil of seeds. The good to moderate antimicrobial results in this study has further justified the ethnomedicinal use of C. cainito in the treatment of inflammation caused by pneumonia and laryngitis microbes.