Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. flowers.

Abstract

The chemical compounds present in the essential oil obtained from the flowers of Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. were analyzed by GC-MS technique. More than 95% of the oil consisted of the esters of phthalic acid. Di-isobutylphthalate (>75%), di-n-butylphthalate (>7%), n-butylisobutylphthalate (>6%), butylisohexylphthalate (>3.5%) were identified as major constituents of the essential oil. Monobutyl carbonotrithioate, a sulphur compound was also identified in trace amount (0.01%). The essential oil showed moderate antibacterial activity against three Gram positive and two Gram negative bacteria and three pathogenic fungi.