Tiziana Siciliano

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Momordica charantia seed essential oil

The essential oil obtained from the seeds of Momordica charantia was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-five components, representing 90.9% of the oil, were identified. The main constituents were trans-nerolidol, apiole, cis-dihydrocarveol and germacrene D. Furthermore, the oil was tested for its antibacterial and antifungal activities. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most sensitive microorganism with MIC values <500 microg/ml.

Flower Buds and Seeds Essential Oils of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen (Araliaceae)

Abstract The essential oils obtained from flowers buds and seeds of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen (Araliaceae) have been analyzed by GC (FID) and GC/MS. Thirty components of the oil of the flower buds, representing 93.6%, and sixteen components of the seeds oil, representing 96.5%, were identified, respectively. The main constituents were sesquiterpenes: spathulenol, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, and α-panasinsene. A comparison between constituents of the seed and flower bud oils with those reported in the literature for other Panax ssp. revealed some chemotaxonomical considerations.