title: Essential oils of Retama raetam from Libya: chemical composition and antimicrobial activity.
abstract: Retama raetam (Forssk) Webb & Berthel is well known in the folk medicine of North and East Mediterranean regions for the treatment of microbial infections. The powdered leaves are used to heal circumcision wounds and used as an antiseptic for wounds, skin rash and pruritus. In this study, to validate this antiseptic property, the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from the flowers of R. raetam was evaluated. The oil was obtained using hydrodistillation and was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antibacterial activity was achieved using disc diffusion and broth dilution assay against six bacteria species. Analysis of the essential oil revealed the presence of β-linalool (51%), 2-decen-1-ol (6.6%) and limonene (7.4%) as the major components. The results showed significant activity against microorganisms, especially Staphylococcus aureus, with inhibition zones and minimal inhibitory concentration values in the range of 5.0 mm and 3.0 mg mL⁻¹, respectively. The results on the antibacterial activity provide scientific support for the use of these plants in traditional herbal preparations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Seventh of April University, Al-Zawia, Libya.
authors.forename: Bahlul Zayed Sh
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Awen
authors.forename: C Ramachandra
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Unnithan
authors.forename: Subban
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravi
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kermagy
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sasikumar
authors.forename: Amal S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khrbash
authors.forename: Wafa Lutfi
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Ekreem
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008002:Libya; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile