Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Thai Lauraceous plants

Abstract

Content and composition of essential oils from fifteen species of Thai Lauraceous plants were investigated by hydro distillation. The results obtained from GC/MS analysis showed diversity of their chemical components and their quantities. Oxygenated monoterpenes are most commonly found in essential oils of these particular species. The content of these compounds were found to be between 0.08 to 3.0 %. Essential oils of one species of Western Lauraceous plants cultivated in Thailand were also studied. Results have shown similarity of their constituents to previous report from western country, but with less amount. Screening for antimicrobial activity of essential oil from these plants against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC29212, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853, Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633 Candida albicans ATCC10231 and Microsporum gypseum (clinical isolate) was carried out, and it was found that most of the essential oils from Thai Lauraceae plants exhibited antibacterial activity and antifungal activity (Candida albicans).