Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil from Herba Moslae.
BACKGROUND
Herba Moslae is a well-known edible and medicinal plant in China, and the essential oil, which is assumed to contain the active components, was isolated by steam distillation method. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity and the antioxidant activity of the essential oil from Herba Moslae.


RESULTS
The essential oil from Herba Moslae exhibited antimicrobial activity against all of the tested bacteria and fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for bacteria ranged from 118 to 472 microg mL(-1), and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were from 236 to 944 microg mL(-1). The oil showed pronounced antibacterial and antifungal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus oryzae, but weak inhibition to Escherichia coli. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil from Herba Moslae was evaluated by using DPPH radical scavenging assay, beta-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay and metal chelating activity assay. In addition, the amount of total phenolic content in the oil (386 +/- 1 microg kg(-1)) was determined.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the essential oil from Herba Moslae could be potentially used as a new potential source of natural antimicrobial, antioxidants and antiputrefactive in food industry.
Li
Jing-en
JE
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang, China.
Nie
Shao-ping
SP
Qiu
Zeng-hui
ZH
Che
Mei-jing
MJ
Li
Chang
C
Xie
Ming-yong
MY
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001236:Aspergillus oryzae / Q000187:drug effects; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts