Essential oils of <i>Phlomis</i> species growing in Greece: chemical composition and antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Abstract The essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Phlomis fruticosa , P. cretica and P. samia , growing in Greece, were analysed by GC and GC–MS. From the 72 identified constituents, representing 84.3%, 90.4% and 67.4% of the oils, respectively, α ‐pinene, limonene, β ‐caryophyllene, linalool, ( E )‐ β ‐farnesene, germacrene D, ( Z )‐ γ ‐bisabolene and cis ‐ β ‐ocimene were the major components. Furthermore, all the oils exhibited an interesting antimicrobial profile after they were tested against two Gram‐positive and four Gram‐negative bacteria and three pathogenic fungi. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.