Antimicrobial Testing of Schinus molle (L.) Leaf Extracts and Fractions Followed by GC-MS Investigation of Biological Active Fractions

Abstract

Schinus molle (L.) is a dioecious plant of the Anacardiaceae family, originating in South America and currently widespread in many regions throughout the world. In this work leaf extracts and derived low-pressure column chromatography (LPCC) fractions of S. molle L. male and female plants were investigated for the antimicrobial activity. Leaf extracts were tested on microbes Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Bacillus subtilis. Furthermore, the extracts showing antimicrobial activity were fractionated by LPCC and the obtained fractions tested on the same microorganism strains. Positive fractions were investigated by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and were seen to be rich in sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpenoids and other terpens. The obtained effects highlighted the antimicrobial properties of S. molle (L.) leaf compounds and revealed their importance as a source of bioactive molecules of potential pharmaceutical interest. To our knowledge, this is the first paper reporting investigations on the chemical composition of the extracts and derived positive fractions from Schinus molle (L.) plants grown in central Italy

Plants with Antimicrobial Activity Growing in Italy: A Pathogen-Driven Systematic Review for Green Veterinary Pharmacology Applications

“…Limonium avei (De Not.) Brullo and Erben [31]; Schinus molle (L.) [32]; Thymus vulgaris [28]; Crocus sativus L. [33]; Glycyrrhiza glabra [34]; Dianthus rupicola [20]; Lavandula angustifolia L. [35]; Hypericum taxa (Guttiferae) [36]; Fuscoporia torulosa (Basidiomycetes) [27]; Fuscoporia torulosa [27]; Thymus vulgaris [28]; Bupleurum fontanesii [37]; Crithmum maritimum [38]; Ferulago campestris [39]; Origanum onites and Thymus capitatus [40] Clostridium difficile 2 Angelica archangelica L. [41]; Echinophora spinosa (Apiaceae) [42] Clostridium perfringens 3 Angelica archangelica L. (Apiaceae) [41]; Satureja montana L. [43]; Echinophora spinosa (Apiaceae) [42] Table 1. Cont.…”

“…Schinus molle (L.) [32]; Achillea moschata [17]; Angelica archangelica L. (Apiaceae) [41]; Rapa Catozza Napoletana (Brassica rapa L. var. rapa DC.)…”

“…rapa DC.) [23]; Cinnamomum camphora (L.) [45]; Allium ampeloprasum [54]; Citrus taxa-Citrus medica, Citrus bergamia [55]; Conium maculatum, Apiaceae [56]; Allium sativum L. [24]; Schinus molle (L.) [32]; Cytinus [44]; Citrus medica L. [57]; Achillea moschata [17]; Crithmum maritimum [38]; Artemisia arborescens [58] Rothia dentocariosa 1 Punica granatum L. [59] Staphylococcus aureus 39…”

Identification of the chemical composition of six essential oils with mass spectroscopy and evaluation of their antibacterial and antioxidant potential

“…The fruits secrete esters, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, lactones, terpenoids and carotenoid derivatives 30 . Several studies have shown that the EO extracted from leaves of S molle exhibits anticancer, antioxidant, anti‐tumoral and antimicrobial properties 31‐33 …”

GC-MS Profile, Antioxidant Activity, and In Silico Study of the Essential Oil from Schinus molle L. Leaves in the Presence of Mosquito Juvenile Hormone-Binding Protein (mJHBP) from Aedes aegypti

“…Schinus molle L., internationally commonly known as peruvian pepper, false pepper, American pepper, or pink pepper, is a perennial tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, which is native to subtropical regions of South and Central America [ 8 ]. In Peru, it is popularly known as molle (in Spanish) and its leaves and fruits exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antirheumatic, antibacterial, antiseptic, and repellent activity [ 9 ]. The essential oil of S. molle (leaves and fruits) exhibits biological activities such as antibacterial (gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria), antifungal, insecticidal, repellent, and cytotoxic activities [ 10 ].…”