Seasonal variation and antimicrobial activity of Myrcia myrtifolia essential oils

• Published in: Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society 2007, Vol.18 (5), p.998-1003
• Main Authors: Cerqueira, Martins D. de, Souza-Neta, Lourdes C., Passos, Maria das Graças V. M., Lima, Edeltrudes de O., Roque, Nídia F., Martins, Dirceu, Guedes, Maria L. S., Cruz, Frederico G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
• ISSN: 0103-5053; 1678-4790
• DOI: 10.1590/S0103-50532007000500018

This work reports the seasonal variation of the composition of leaf volatile oils and the composition of volatile oils from flowers and fruits of Myrcia myrtifolia DC harvested in the sand dunes of Salvador, Bahia, northeastern region of Brazil between 2002 and 2003. The oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS so that 28 components were identified. alpha-Pinene was predominant in a range from 61.5 to 90.9% in all samples analyzed. The leaf oil collected in October 2002 had their antimicrobial properties tested against six bacteria, two yeasts and five filamentous fungi being active against Staphylococcus aureus, methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus, and showed strongest activity against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum. The oil displayed moderate toxicity against Artemia salina showing a LC50 of 479.16 µg mL-1.