Chemical composition and some biological activities of the volatile oils of a chemotype of Lippia chevalieri Moldenke

• Published in: Food chemistry 2007, Vol.101 (2), p.682-685
• Main Authors: Mevy, J.P., Bessiere, J.M., Dherbomez, M., Millogo, J., Viano, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1,8-Cineole; antifungal properties; Antimicrobial; antimicrobial properties; Antioxidant; antioxidant activity; antioxidants; beta-caryophyllene; camphor; Candida albicans; Caryophyllene oxide; chemical constituents of plants; chemotypes; cineole; cymenes; Elemol; Enterococcus hirae; essential oils; flowers; GC and GC/MS; germacrene; Germacrene d; leaves; Lippia; Lippia chevalieri; medicinal plants; physicochemical properties; phytochemicals; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; sesquiterpenoids; shrubs; Staphylococcus aureus; Volatile oil; β-Caryophyllene
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.01.052

The volatile oils of a chemotype Lippia chevalieri collected in Burkina-Faso were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC/MS. Most of the constituents identified in leaves and flowers oils were sesquiterpenoids. The dominant components in the oil from leaves were β-caryophyllene (27%), elemol (22%) and caryophyllene oxide (9%) whereas those found in the oil from flowers were β-caryophyllene (30%), germacrene d (15%) and elemol (12%). The latter compound and 1,8-cineole may be considered as metabolic markers of flowers differentiation taking into account the local environmental changes. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of both oils were tested against six microorganisms. While a strong inhibitory effect was shown regarding the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus hirae, a moderated effect was observed for Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Elemol, 1,8-cineole, camphor and para-cymene can be considered as the principal antimicrobial components of these oils. No antioxidant capacity comparable to that of α-tocopherol was demonstrated from either oil.