Abstract

In this study focused on research on plants as a source of alternative and natural antimicrobial substances, the chemical composition of the essential oil from Prunus myrtifolia (L.) Urb. was assessed through gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and phytochemical screening of different extracts (aqueous, ethanolic, ethyl acetate, and hexanic) from the same plant, as well as the antimicrobial effect against the following microorganisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoni, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans, through determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values, using the micro-dilution broth method. Finally, the goal was to assess the antioxidant activity of essential oil and plant extracts using the DPPH free radical method (2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). The largest class of volatile compounds identified in P. myrtifolia oil belongs to aldehydes represented by benzaldehyde compounds. With respect to antimicrobial activity, all extracts and essential oil showed activity against the microorganisms assessed, with exception of hexanic extract. Among the extracts assessed, aqueous and ethanolic extracts were the most effective. Antioxidant activity of aqueous, ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts was confirmed; however, antioxidant activity of essential oil and hexanic extract was not observed.

Key words: Antimicrobial activity, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS), native plants, chemical composition, antioxidant activity, essential oil, plant extracts.