Phytoconstituents and antimicrobial activity of the leaf essential oil of <i>clausena anisata</i> (Willd.) J.D. Hook ex. Benth

Abstract

Abstract The essential oil from the leaves of Clausena anisata (Willd.) J.D. Hook ex Benth. was isolated by hydrodistillation. The oil was analysed by a combination of GC and GC‐MS. The oil contained mainly sabinene (33.0%), germacrene‐D (17.0%) Z‐β‐ocimene (6.0%), germacrene‐B (5.5%), ( E )‐β‐ocimene (4.9%) and terpinen‐4‐ol (4.7%). Using the hole‐plate diffusion method for antibacterial testing, the volatile oil exhibited significant activity against Beneckea natriegens, Flavobacterium suaveolens, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens, Alcaligenes faeclis and Leuconostoc cremoris . The mycelium growth inhibition method was used to test for antifungal activity. The fungal species Geotrichum candidum, Aspergillus parasiticus, Candida albicans, Penicillium citrinum and Alternaria alternata showed significant sensitivity to the volatile oil.