Artemisia species are important sources for anti-microbial drugs [1]. Artemisia capillaris (Asteraceae) is known as the representative plant source for 'Injin', used in cases
of various liver diseases. The essential oil was obtained by steam distillation, using
a simultaneous steam distillation-extraction apparatus, from the above ground parts
of plants cultivated in the province of Hongchun, Korea. A voucher specimen has been
deposited at the Herbarium of Duksung Women's University. The compositions of the
oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and compared. Additionally,
their inhibiting activities were investigated by broth dilution method against antibiotic-susceptible
and -resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria [2,3]. It was found that there was remarkable diversity in the composition of essential
oils according to the cultivars. Vulgarone B, the main component of the oil was isolated
by silica gel column chromatography. Its structure was elucidated by Mass-spectrometry,
1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The tested essential oils significantly inhibited the growth of the tested
strains of pathogenic bacteria with minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) ranging
from 0.5 to 4mg/ml.
vulgarone B
Acknowledgements: This study was supported by a grant from Korea Science and Engineering
Foundation (KOSEF, R01–2006–000–10732–0).
References: 1. Shin, S. (2007) Yakhak Hoeji 31: 355–360.
2. Kim, Ji-Hyun and Shin, S. (2007) Nat. Prod. Sci. 13: 258–262.
3. Shin, S. (2005) Arch. Pharm. Res. 28: 765–769.
