Phytochemical characterization, genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial activity of Gautheria procumbens essential oil

Abstract

This study investigated the chemical constituents of Gaultheria procumbens essential oil and is the first to relate cytogenotoxicity with oxidative metabolism and antimicrobial activity. Chromatographic analysis of the essential oil showed methyl salicylate (99.96%) and linalool (0.04%) as the major compounds. The essential oil showed no signs of cytogenotoxicity at different concentrations (1.82 to 58.34 mg mL⁻¹). Furthermore, G. procumbens essential oil and methyl salicylate were used to evaluate the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal microbicidal concentrations (MMC). The results showed efficacy against several microorganisms, including Aeromonas caviae, Candida albicans, and Mycobacterium fortuitum with MIC values ranging from 1.82 to 3.64 mg mL⁻¹ and MMC values ranging from 3.64 to 12.67 mg mL⁻¹, which were confirmed by time-kill kinetics. Based on our results, the essential oil is a promising alternative to developing future formulations to treat infections caused by microorganisms.

Keywords:

• Toxicity
• PBMCs
• time-kill
• MIC
• methyl salicylate
• microorganism
• mycobacterium

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). We thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS) for their support.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.