title: Chemical composition and in vitro antibacterial activity of Pistacia terebinthus essential oils derived from wild populations in Kosovo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plant material from different organs of Pistacia terebinthus L., (Anacardiaceae) were collected in Kosovo with aim to analyze the chemical variability of the essential oils among native populations and to test them for potential antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Essential oils obtained from leaves, pedicels, fruits and galls were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against three clinically relevant strains of S. aureus (NRS385, LAC and UAMS-1) were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of essential oils.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 33 different compounds were identified. The main constituents were α-pinene (12.58-66.29 %), D-limonene (13.95-46.29 %), β-ocimene (0.03-40.49 %), β-pinene (2.63-20.47 %), sabinene (0.00-5.61 %) and (Z)-β-ocimene (0.00-44.85 %). Antibacterial testing of the essential oils against three clinical isolates of S. aureus revealed that seven of the eight samples had some activity at the concentration range tested (0.04-0.512 % v/v). The gall tissues from both sites produced the highest yield of essential oil (3.24 and 6 %), and both exhibited growth inhibitory activity against S. aureus. The most bioactive essential oils, which exhibited MIC90 values ranging from 0.032-0.128 % v/v, obtained from the fruits of the Ura e Shejtë collection site. Likewise, the leaf and pedicel essential oil from the same site was highly active with MIC90 values of 0.064-0.128 and 0.032-0.256 % v/v, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Principle Component Analyses demonstrated that there is a variation in the chemical composition of essential oil depending on the plant organs from which essential oil are obtained and the geographical origin of the plant populations. The highest variability regarding the chemical composition of essential oil was found between oils obtained from different organs originating from the Prizren site. The MIC90 activity of Pistacia terebinthus was on par or superior compared with Tea Tree Oil control (0.128 % v/v), suggesting that essential oils from this species may have some potential for development as an antibacterial agent for S. aureus infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Science, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Mother Theresa St, 10000, Prishtinë, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Bledar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pulaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Science, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Mother Theresa St, 10000, Prishtinë, Kosovo.|Institute for Biological and Environmental Researches, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Science, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Mother Theresa St, 10000, Prishtinë, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Behxhet
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St, Whitehead 105-L, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St, Whitehead 105-L, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.|Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, 550 Asbury Circle, Candler Library 107, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Cassandra L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Quave
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Science, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Mother Theresa St, 10000, Prishtinë, Kosovo. avni.hajdari@uni-pr.edu.|Institute for Biological and Environmental Researches, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Science, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Mother Theresa St, 10000, Prishtinë, Kosovo. avni.hajdari@uni-pr.edu.
authors.forename: Avni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hajdari
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063826:Kosovo; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils
keywords: Essential oil; Limonene; MRSA; Natural variability; Staphylococcus aureus; Terebinth