title: Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of apricot seed.
abstract: In traditional oriental medicine, apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) seed has been used to treat skin diseases such as furuncle, acne vulgaris and dandruff, as well as coughing, asthma and constipation. This study describes the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial potential of the essential oil obtained from apricot seeds (Armeniacae Semen). The essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Benzaldehyde (90.6%), mandelonitrile (5.2%) and benzoic acid (4.1%) were identified. Disc diffusion, agar dilution and gaseous contact methods were performed to determine the antimicrobial activity against 16 bacteria and two yeast species. The minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 250 to 4000, 500 to 2000 and 250 to 1000 µg/mL for Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and yeast strains, respectively. The minimum inhibitory doses by gaseous contact ranged from 12.5 to 50, 12.5 to 50 and 3.13 to 12.5 mg/L air for Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and yeast strains, respectively. The essential oil exhibited a variable degree of antimicrobial activity against a range of bacteria and yeasts tested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Herbal Skin Care, College of Herbal Bio-Industry, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan, 712-715, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Hee
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeong-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Ae-Ran
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Eun Sook
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Yu-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils
keywords: Prunus armeniaca L.; antimicrobial; apricot seeds; essential oil