Chemical and biological investigations of <em>Syzygium aromaticum</em> L. essential oil from Benin

Abstract

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from seeds of Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae) growing in Benin was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twenty-one components, which represented 99.4% of the total constituents of the oil were identified. The essential oil is rich in hydrocarbons monoterpenic. The major constituents found were eugenol (60.4%), trans-β-caryophyllene (24.0%). The oil extract revealed an important antiradical activity and a high antimicrobial activity.Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, antiradical activity, essential oil, eugenol, trans-β-caryophyllene, Syzygium aromaticum