Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils of Eugenia chlorophylla (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

The chemical composition of essential oils of stems, leaves (at vegetative and flowering stages) and flowers of Eugenia chlorophylla O. Berg., (Myrtaceae) obtained by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. Thirty-four components were identified, representing more than 80% of total oil. The major components were β-caryophyllene (flowers −12.8%), caryophyllene oxide (stems—17.2%), globulol (stems—16.5%; leaves—22.5% at vegetative stage and 18.9% at flowering stage), 1-epi-cubenol (stems −10.9%), epi—α—muurolol (stems—16.8%) and α—cadinol (stems—12.1%; flowers −10.1%). The oils were evaluated against 20 strains of bacteria (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) and yeasts. All oils showed mild to moderate antimicrobial activity associated mainly with Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts.

Key Word Index:

• Eugenia chlorophylla
• Myrtaceae
• essential oil composition
• β-caryophyllene
• caryophyllene oxide
• globulol
• 1-epi-cubenol
• T-muurolol
• α—cadinol
• antimicrobial activity