Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of the Essential Oil and Extracts ofZanthoxylum alatumGrown in North-Western Himalaya

摘要

The essential oil obtained from the fresh leaves ofZanthoxylum alatumwas analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Fourteen components were identified, and linalool (30.58%), 2-decanone (20.85%),β-fenchol (9.43%), 2-tridecanone (8.86%),β-phellandrene (5.99%), Sabinene (4.82%), andα-pinene (4.11%) were the main components. The EO and methanolic extract ofZ. alatumexhibited potent antifungal activity againstAlternaria alternata,Alternaria brassicae, andCurvularia lunata. The EO also showed significant antibacterial activity againstBacillus subtilis,Micrococcus luteus,Staphylococcus aureus, andEscherichia coli. Further, antimicrobial constituents of the EO were isolated by bioautography and preparative thin layer chromatography (PTLC) and identified asβ-fenchol and linalool using GC/MS analysis. In addition to this, the free radical scavenging activity and antioxidant potential of EO and methanolic extract/fractions ofZ. alatumwere also investigated usingin vitroassays including scavenging ability against DPPH•, reducing power and chelating ability on Fe2+ions. Our results demonstrate thatZ. alatumcould be used as a resource of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds which may find applications in food and pesticide industries.