title: Volatiles with antimicrobial activity from the roots of Greek Paeonia taxa.
abstract: The traditional uses of the roots of Paeonia taxa are described. The volatile constituents, obtained by steam distillation of the roots of Paeonia clusii Stern subsp. clusii, Paeonia mascula L. subsp. hellenica and Paeonia parnassica, were studied by GC/MS. Salicylaldehyde, paeonol, methyl salicylate and benzoic acid were found to be the major components among the twelve constituents identified. The evaluation of the in vitro antimicrobial activity of the volatile compounds against six bacteria and three fungi is also reported.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, GR-157 71 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papandreou
authors.forename: Prokopios
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magiatis
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chinou
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalpoutzakis
authors.forename: Alexios-Leandros
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Skaltsounis
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsarbopoulos
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006115:Greece; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile