Phytochemical Profile, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oil from the Leaves of Native Amazonian Species of Ecuador Sarcorhachis sydowii Trel

Abstract

In the present research, the essential oil of Sarcorhachis sydowii Trel was analyzed. The chemical composition was performed by GC/MS and GC/FID techniques. A total of 42 chemical compounds were identified which represent 98.53 % of the essential oil composition. The main compounds were (E)-caryophyllene (25.07 %). α-humulene (10.48 %), α-selinene (7.58 %), β-selinene (6.08 %) and α-phellandrene (5.37 %). In addition, a low amount of safrole (0.74 %) was identified. The antimicrobial activity and antifungal activity of the oil were assayed against two Gram-positive bacteria, five Gram-negative bacteria and two fungi. The essential oil from S. sydowii Trel exerted strong activity against Trichophyton rubrum (ATCC 28188) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (ATCC 28185) with a MIC of 500 μg/mL. However, the EO did not show activity against any bacteria at the maximum concentration tested (1000 μg/mL). The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was explored using DPPH and ABTS methods, and the oils showed an IC₅₀ of 950 μg/mL and 800 μg/mL, respectively. This is the first report on the chemical composition and biological activity of essential oil from this species.

Key words:

• Essential oil
• Sarcorhachis sydowii
• (E)-caryophyllene
• biological activity
• Antioxidant activity