Chemical and Antimicrobial Studies of Platycladus orientalis Essential Oils

Abstract

The essential oils of fresh fruits and terminal branchlets with adherent leaves (leaves) of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco, growing wild in Iran, were analyzed by GC-MS, and screened for bacteriostatic and fungistatic activities (MIC determination). Eighteen components were identified in the essential oils. The major constituents of both cases were a-pinene, sabinene, 3-carene, limonene and cedrol. The essential oil of leaves has no antimicrobial activity, while the essential oil from fruit showed a modest and slightly antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The defatted ethanol extract of leaves and fruits were rich in flavonoids and tannins.