Planta Med 2008; 74 - PI16
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084924

Chemical composition and evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Ocimum lamiifolium and Crassocephalum vitellinum essential oils

MJ Mukazayire 1, 2, JC Tomani 2, PN Okusa 1, JC Chalchat 3, C Stévigny 1, P Duez 1
  • 1Free University of Brussels (ULB), Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Bromatology and Human Nutrition, CP 205–9, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
  • 2Institute of Research Science and Technology (I.R.S.T.), Center of Research in Phytomedecine and life Science, B.P. 227 Butare, Rwanda
  • 3Laboratory of Photochemistry Molecular and Macromolecular, Chemistry of Essential Oils, Blaise Pascal Clermont University, 63177 Aubière Cédex, France

Ocimum lamiifolium (Lamiaceae) and Crassocephalum vitellinum (Asteraceae), Rwandese medicinal plants, were selected regarding their traditional medicinal use. Volatile oils were evaluated for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities [1,2] as well as for their chemical compositions using GC and GC/MS[2–5]. The antimicrobial activity was tested against, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia. coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 by a disc diffusion method. The MIC was estimated by a microdilution broth method. The result showed that the volatile oil of Ocimum lamiifolium [major components sabinene (12.2%) and alpha phellandrene (11.6%)] exhibited an activity against S.aureus (MIC 2.5µl/ml), E. coli and P. aeruginosa (MIC >10µl/ml). In addition, Crassocephalum vitellinum volatile oil [major components limonene (34.8%), (E)-β-ocimene (21.8%), β-pinene (8.5%), α-pinene (6.6%),myrcene (6.3%) and β-phellandrene (5.5%) ] exhibited activity against S. aureus (MIC 1.25µl/ml), E.coli and P. aeruginosa (MIC >10µl/ml). The antioxidant activities of the volatile oils were assessed using the DPPH and linoleic acid peroxidation assays. The result showed that the C. vitellinum and O. lamiifolium essential oils strongly scavenged the stable radical 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and reduced the peroxidation of linoleic acid.

Acknowledgements: Belgian Technical cooperation is thanked for support to Mrs Mukazayire.

References: 1. De Carvalho, P. M. and Shimizu, M. T. (2004)J Ethnopharmacol. 95:297–301. 2. Pandey, M. M. and Pushpangadan, P. (2005) Acta Pharm. 55:297–304. 3. Van Den Dool and P.D. Krats (1963)J.Chromatogr.11:463–471. 4. McLafferty F.W.and Stauffer D.B. (1989) The Wiley NBS registry of Mass Spectral Data.2nd Edition.J.Wiley and Son.NY 5. Adams R.P. (2001) Identification of Essential Oil Components by Gas chromatrography/Quadrupole Mass Spectroscopy. Allured Publishing corp.,carol stream, IL. 6. Joulain D.and König W.A. (1998)The Atlas of Spectral Data of Sesquiterpene Hydrocarbons. E.B. Verlag, Hamburg.