Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil of Eupatorium Glutinosum (Lam.)

Abstract

The essential oil obtained by steam distillation from the leaves and twigs of Eupatorium glutinosum Lam. (Asteraceae) showed antimicrobial activities against a Gram-positive bacterium, three Gram–negative bacteria and three fungi. The results from this study support the vernacular medicinal uses of the plant in folkloric medicine. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analysed by GC and GC-MS, resulting in the identification of 24 constituents accounting for 92.6% of the total mass. The major active component, carvacrol, was isolated using MPLC and characterized by NMR and MS analysis. β-Glucosidase-treatment of the aqueous plant residue yielded a volatile fraction that did not show antimicrobial activitiy, in which the major components were octen-3-ol and (Z)-hex-2-en-1-ol. The essential oil from the species is reported for the first time.