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Abstract
The plants of the genus Ferula (Apiaceae), with more than 180 species found worldwide, have been a source of numerous bioactive secondary metabolites. In this study, we isolate the essential oils from different parts of an Iranian endemic species Ferula xylorhachis Rech.f. -for the first time- by hydro-distillation and further characterized their chemical profile by GC/MS analysis. In addition, we evaluated their antimicrobial properties against a set of skin pathogens, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. GC/MS analysis of the essential oils resulted in the identification of seventy-two compounds representing 98% and 90.2% of all volatile compounds in the aerial parts and the roots, respectively. Some of these compounds, mainly the monoterpenes and aliphatic hydrocarbons, were also detected in headspace GC/MS analysis of the dried plant parts. The oil compositions were dominated by the monoterpene hydrocarbons in the aerial parts, and aliphatic hydrocarbons in the roots. The principal chemical constituents were sabinene (17.6%), α-pinene (16.2%) and n-nonane (14%) in the essential oil from the aerial parts, and n-nonane (56.5%), 10s,11s-himachala-3(12),4-diene (6.9%) and β-himachalene (2.3%) in the essential oil from the roots. While the essential oils did not show activity against tested bacterial strains, they both exhibited antifungal activity against C. albicans at varying concentrations, which was promising in the case of roots essential oils which exhibited an MIC of 250 μg/mL. Based on our findings, the topical use of F. xylorhachis roots essential oils could be considered an alternative therapy for superficial infections caused by Candida species.