In this study, the essential oil of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle was extracted by hydrodistillation and, after chemical characterization, was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity on a representative range of ATCC and clinical strains. The chemical composition of the volatile fraction of key lime oil was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated on a representative range of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts, including ATCC and clinical strains, by the disc diffusion method and the broth microdilution method. The major components of lime essential oil proved to be β-pinene (12.6%), limonene (53.8%), γ-terpinene (16.5%), terpinolene (0.6%), α-terpineol (0.4%) and citral (2.5%), which are very likely responsible for the good antimicrobial activity, in particular on Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis). © 2014 © 2014 Taylor & Francis.
Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle essential oil from Italian organic crops
COSTA, ROSARIA;BISIGNANO, CARLO;FILOCAMO, ANGELA;OCCHIUTO, Francesco;SPADARO, FEDERICA
2014-01-01
Abstract
In this study, the essential oil of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle was extracted by hydrodistillation and, after chemical characterization, was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity on a representative range of ATCC and clinical strains. The chemical composition of the volatile fraction of key lime oil was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated on a representative range of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts, including ATCC and clinical strains, by the disc diffusion method and the broth microdilution method. The major components of lime essential oil proved to be β-pinene (12.6%), limonene (53.8%), γ-terpinene (16.5%), terpinolene (0.6%), α-terpineol (0.4%) and citral (2.5%), which are very likely responsible for the good antimicrobial activity, in particular on Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis). © 2014 © 2014 Taylor & Francis.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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