Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils from different populations of Artemisia incana (Asteraceae) from Iran

Artemisia L. is the largest genus of the Anthemideae-Asteraceae and comprises more than 500 taxa growing worldwide [1]. The composition, structure, as well as functional groups of the oils play an important role in determining their antimicrobial activity [2]. Many essential oils possess antibacterial activity to both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria [3]. The essential oils of six populations of air-dried Artemisia incana obtained by hydrodistillation and were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed that the different studied populations have different essential oil components, from view point of quality and quantity. The antibacterial effects of these 6 populations were studied against 8 bacterial strains (4 Gram positive and 4 Gram-negative bacteria). The obtained results showed strong antibacterial activity of their essential oils. The highest zones of inhibition were exhibited by essential oil of different populations of A. incana, ranging from 9 to 30mm. In spite of high antibacterial effects of essential oils of A. incana components, antibacterial ability of different populations of this taxon was very different. It is necessary to mention that each one of these 6 populations occur in particular ecological conditions and therefore have the particular components.

References: [1] Kubitzki, K. (2007). The families and genera of vascular plants, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

[2] Celikel, N., Kavas G. (2008) Czech J. Food Sci. 26:174–181.

[3] Oyedemi, S.O. et al (2008) Afr. J. Biotechnol. 7:4140–4146.