Aromatic Plants from Yungas. Part IV: Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Myrcianthes pseudo-mato Essential Oil

Abstract

The essential oil of Myrcianthes pseudo-mato (Legr.)Mc.Vaugh, from the Yungas area (Argentina), has been studied for the first time.The essential oil obtained was analyzed by GC/MS and assayed for anti-microbial activity.Height different genera of bacteria and one yeast species were used in this study as test organisms.The oil showed a high degree of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus.Twenty components were characterized representing 97.5% of the total components detected with 1,8-cineole (32.5%) and b-caryophyllene (18.9%) as major constituents.