Abstract

Essential oil extracted from fruits of egyptian Eugenia jambolana has antimicrobial activity

Author(s): Mohamed I.S.Abdelhady

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the fruits of Eugenia jambolana was investigated by GC/MS. It was found that the percentage of volatile oil in fruits afford 1.2%. The major components of the volatile oil of fruits are methyl eugenol, limonene and alpha-terpineol (22.5%, 14.43% and 12.04% respectively). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of fruits was evaluated against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and yeast (Candida albicans) and Aspergillus flavus as fungus. The oil had pronounced antifungal activities on all the tested microbes.