[P-111]
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM Achillea serbica

Nebojša Simić, Radosav Palić, Tanja Nasković and S. Anđelković
Department of Chemistry, University of Niš, P.O. Box 91, 18000 Niš, FR Yugoslavia

Our phytochemical studies of naturally grown Achillea species in Serbia, included investigation of essential oil from Achillea serbica Nym. for antimicrobial activity. In antibacterial diffusion assays, the oil showed a weak activity against tested Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli Torlak 95, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 10031) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus 6538 ATCC. It exhibited no activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 (Gram-negative) in tested concentration (Table 1).

Table 1. Antimicrobial activity of A. serbica essential oil
Inhibition zone ( mm )
S. aureus
P. aeruginosa
E. coli
K. pneumoniae
13.6
n.d.*
13.6
14.6
* not detected

The oil of A. serbica is rich in thujane type compounds (1), which are known by their weak activity. Because of a low content of oxygenated p-menthane type and sesquiterpene compounds, the results were expected and in accordance with literature (2).

References

  1. Simić N., Anđelković S., Palić R., Vajs V. and Milosavljević S. (1999): Volatile Constituents of Achillea Serbica Nym., Flav. Fragr. J. (in press).
  2. Hinou B.I., Harvala E.C. and Hinou B.E. (1989): Pharmazie, 44, 302.
[Full paper: NA]
[P-111]