Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Eugenia chlorophylla (Myrtaceae)

The chemical composition of essential oils of stems, leaves (at vegetative and flowering stages) and flowers of Eugenia chlorophylla O. Berg,, (Myrtaceae) obtained by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. Thirty-four components were identified, representing more than 80% of total oil. The major components were beta-caryophyllene (flowers -12.8%), caryophyllene oxide (stems - 17.2%), globulol (stems - 16.5%; leaves - 22.5% at vegetative stage and 18.9% at flowering stage), 1-epi-cubenol (steins -10.9%), epi-alpha-muurolol (stems - 16.8%) and alpha-cadinol (stems - 12.1%; flowers -10.1%). The oils were evaluated against 20 strains of bacteria (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) and yeasts. All oils showed mild to moderate antimicrobial activity associated mainly with Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts.