The chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the volatile oil from Micromeria rupestris L. (Lamiaceae)

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and the antibacterial activity of the volatile oil from Micromeria rupestris L. (Lamiaceae), which is wide spread in Syria and commonly used in folk medicine [1,2], and to determine the relation between the chemical composition and the antibacterial activity of the volatile oil. Plant material was collected from two areas in Syria (Ladekiah, Golan), and the volatile oil was extracted by steam distillation using european steam distillation apparatus. The volatile yields were 1.5% and 2.5%. The chemical composition was elucidated using GC/MS [3,4]. Both extracted oils showed only few differences in composition and in the percentage of the main compounds (menthone 1–3%, pulegone 2–4.5%, α-terpinol 89–92%). The antibacterial activity was tested against strains from Micrococcus flavus, Pseudomonas aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, on agar plates using diffusion method [3,4]. The study showed that the volatile oil of the plant material from Micromeria rupestris L. which was collected from Golan has more activity against the tested bacteria than the volatile oil from the other location. This activity was especially strong against E. coli.

Acknowledgements: I am very thankful to Prof. Dr. W. Blascheck, Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, CAU Kiel-Germany and all assistants for all kinds of help.

References: 1. Tlas, M., (1988), Dictionary of medicinal plants. Tlasdar. Damascus Syria. 2. Dahshan, A., (1997), Medicinal Plants and their uses. Darpetra. Damascus Syria. 3. Toker, Z.G. (2006) Fitoterapia 77: 57–60. 4. Osadebe, PO, Akabogu, I.C. (2006) Fitoterapia 77:54–56