Chemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidative activities of Monotheca buxifolia (Falc.) A. DC leaves essential oil

Abstract

Monotheca buxifolia (Sapotaceae) is used against different heath aliments due to auspicious biological properties. Essential oil was extracted from leaves of M. buxifolia through steam distillation. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed presence of 34 compounds. Geranyl acetone (12.6%), nonanal (9.0%) and champhor (8.0%) were abundant while (E)-β-ionone, cis-carvone oxide and caryophyllene oxide were also found. The oil presented 50.2% free radical scavenging activity while total antioxidant potential and total reducing power potential were 40.0 µg AAE/mL and 38.7 µg AAE/mL, respectively. The extracted oil presented moderate activity against Escherichia coli (14 mm) and Bacillus subtilis (11 mm). The study concludes that the essential oil of M. buxifolia leaves has diverse chemical composition and biological activities therefore can be explored for therapeutic potential.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Monotheca buxifolia
• essential oil
• GC-MS
• antibacterial
• antioxidant

Disclosure statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The research work was funded by Higher Education Commission, Pakistan under Indigenous PhD Fellowship program to Miss Joham Sarfraz Ali.