Eucalyptus oleosa essential oils: chemical composition and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the oils from different plant parts (stems, leaves, flowers and fruits)

Molecules. 2011 Feb 17;16(2):1695-709. doi: 10.3390/molecules16021695.

Abstract

Essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the different parts (stems, adult leaves, immature flowers and fruits) of Eucalyptus oleosa were screened for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and their chemical composition. According to GC-FID and GC-MS, the principal compound of the stem, immature flowers and the fruit oils was 1,8-cineole, representing 31.5%, 47.0% and 29.1%, respectively. Spathulenol (16.1%) and γ-eudesmol (15.0%) were the two principal compounds of adult leaves oil. In the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay, the oils of the four parts showed moderate antioxidant activity. In the ABTS (2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) assay, the most active part was the adult leaves, with a IC(50) value 13.0 ± 0.6 mg/L, followed by stems (IC(50) = 43.5 ± 1.4 mg/L). The essential oils showed a better antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and a significant antifungal activity also was observed against yeast-like fungi. A strong correlations between oxygenated monoterpenes and antimicrobial activity (especially 1,8-cineole) were noted (R2 = 0.99, 0.97 and 0.79 for B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans, respectively).

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants* / chemistry
  • Antioxidants* / pharmacology
  • Eucalyptus* / anatomy & histology
  • Eucalyptus* / chemistry
  • Flowers / chemistry
  • Free Radicals / chemistry
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oils, Volatile* / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile* / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / analysis
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Stems / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Free Radicals
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Extracts