Component Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Dracocephalum nutans L. Essential Oil

Abstract

Currently, the arsenal of the pharmaceutical market has significantly expanded with highly effective drugs of plant origin. More than 1000 essential-oil-bearing plants grow in the flora of Kazakhstan. Of great interest are some species from the families Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, which have not been studied at all before, or for which there is only brief information about the chemical composition and biological properties. In this respect, the Lamiaceae L. family, which is one of the leading in the flora of Kazakhstan, is of interest. So, on the territory of the republic in this family, there are 233 species, united in 45 genera. Among them, the most famous are plants of the genus Dracocephalum, which are a rich and very common source of essential oils. The aim of the study was to investigate volatile compounds from the aerial parts of Dracocephalum nutans L. of the genus Dracocephalum of the family Lamiaceae grown wild in Central Kazakhstan. D. nutans – perennial with a beautiful purple flower. Materials and methods. The aim of the study was to study volatile compounds from the aerial parts of Dracocephalum nutans L. of the genus Dracocephalum, Lamiaceae family grown wild in Central Kazakhstan. The oils were obtained using Clevenger apparatus, their composition was evaluated by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The antibacterial activity of D.nutans essential oil sample was assessed by the diameter of the growth inhibition zones of the test strains (mm). Results and Discussion. The main natural components of D.nutans essential oil were 1.8-cineol (34%), α-pinene (6.7%), β-pinene (5.2%), β-mircene (5.3%), α-thujone (8.0%) and β-thujone (5.3%). The results obtained showed differences in the composition of essential oils obtained from already studied D. nutans. 1.8-cineol was also found in D. nutans as one of the major component. Conclusion. As a result of a study on antimicrobial activity, it was established for the first time that a sample of D. nutans essential oil exhibited pronounced antimicrobial activity against strains of gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and weak antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.