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Composition and antibacterial activity of ageratina neriifolia (Asteraeae) essential oil of merida-venezuela

Abstract:

Introduction: Ageratina neriifolia (B.L. Rob.) R.M. Rey and H. Rob. (Asteraceae) grows in many states of Venezuela at latitudes ranging from 1.0 km a.s.l to 3.5 km a.s.l. Objective: Determine the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Ageratina neriifolia essential oil over Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus fecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomona aeruginosa. Methods: Fresh leaves of A. neriifolia were collected in the area called La Culata, specifically in Sierra La Culata National Park, Libertador municipality, Merida State, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at an altitude of approximately 3.1 km a.s.l. The fresh leaves were liquefied and distilled by water vapour trawling (3 hours), using a Clevenger trap. The oil was preserved at-4°C until its use for biological testing. The oil components were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Antibacterial activity was evaluated according to the method of diffusion in agar with paper discs. Results: The oil yield obtained by hydro-distillation was of 0.20%. Twenty-two compounds were identified and majority components were: germacrene-D (45.80%), α-humulene (5.99%), myrcene (5.27 %), limonene (5.13%), bicyclogermacrene (4.08 %), α-pinene (3.71 %), δ-cadinene (3.27 %). The oil showed antibacterial activity (CMI of 75 g/mL) against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions: The chemical composition of Ageratina neriifolia essential oil is formed mostly of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, monoterpenes hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. These components are directly correlated with the good antibacterial activity of Ageratina neriifolia essential oil versus gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, unlike previously described for other species of the genus Ageratina.