Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Ruta chalepensis L. Growing Wild in Lebanon

• Published in: Chemistry & biodiversity 2014-12, Vol.11 (12), p.1990-1997
• Main Authors: Khoury, Madona, Stien, Didier, Ouaini, Naïm, Eparvier, Véronique, Arnold Apostolides, Nelly, El Beyrouthy, Marc
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; Candida albicans; Chemical Sciences; Essential oils; Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Lebanon; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nonan-2-one; Oils, Volatile - chemistry; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Ruta - chemistry; Ruta chalepensis; Trichophyton rubrum; Undecan-2-one
• ISSN: 1612-1872; 1612-1880
• DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201400109

The essential oils (EOs) isolated from the fresh aerial parts of Ruta chalepensis L. collected in North Lebanon were obtained by solvent‐free microwave extraction (Milestone®), yielding 0.12% EO from both the leaves and a mixture of stems and leaves. The EOs were characterized by GC/MS analysis, and 27 components were identified, which were primarily ketones (88.0–93.2%). The main components were nonan‐2‐one and undecan‐2‐one. The antimicrobial activity of the EOs against a Gram‐positive and a Gram‐negative bacterium, a yeast, and a dermatophyte was evaluated using the broth‐microdilution technique and expressed as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The EOs revealed moderate in vitro antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans.