Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils from the leaves of Cymbopogon giganteus Chiov. and Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spre(Poaceae) from Beninng

Abstract

The chemical composition of essential oils obtained from the leaves of Cymbopogon giganteus Chiov. and Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng, two Poaceae growing wild in Benin were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main constituents of Cymbopogon giganteus were cis-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol (19.4%), transp- mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol (16.4%) and limonene (13.7%). The major components identified in the oil of Cymbopogon schoenanthus were piperitone (68.4%), and δ-2-carene (11.5%). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cymbopogon giganteus was found to be moderate on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 with MIC equal to 0.32 ± 0.02 mg/mL and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 with MIC equal to 0.64 ± 0.34 mg/mL. This same oil induced the death of 57.84% of ticks at 8μL. Therefore, essential oil of Cymbopogon schoenanthus had a low antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 with MIC equal to 2.63 ± 0.16 mg/mL and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 with MIC equal to 2.63 ± 0.16 mg/mL. © 2012 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.