Composición Química y Evaluación de la Actividad Antimicrobiana del Aceite Esencial de Espeletia Schultzii Wedd (Asteraceae) Recolectada en el Estado Trujillo – Venezuela

Abstract

The essential oil of fresh leaves Espeletia schultzii Wedd (Asteraceae) obtained by hydrodistillation was rich in hydrocarbon monoterpenes. The analysis of its volatile components by chromatography gas-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) allowed the identification of 13 components, which constituted 100% of essential oil of which the majority were α-pinene (50.11%), β-pinene (16.28%) and β-myrcene (14.71%). The antibacterial activity of the essential oil was assessed using methods agar diffusion and broth microdilution discs against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Salmonella typhi (CDC57), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 23357) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and antifungal activity against Candida albicans (CDC-B385) and Candida krusei (ATCC 6258). This oil showed only activity antibacterial, with variation in the results according to the method used by the diffusion method agar disk inhibited by Gram positive bacteria (S. aureus and E. faecalis) with inhibition halos of 7 to 9 mm in diameter and minimum inhibitory concentration values (MIC) ranging between 280 and 580 mg / mL, using the broth microdilution method, inhibited the development of all microorganisms tested at concentrations of 10 to 100 ug / mL. These results revealed that the sensitivity of the method plays an important role in the evaluation of this oil as an antibacterial, It is more sensitive the broth microdilution method. This is the first report of the activity antibacterial essential oil obtained from the leaves of this species.