ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Erodium species: E. ciconium L., E. cicutarium L., and E. absinthoides Willd. (Geraniaceae)

Zorica Stojanović-Radić, Ljiljana Čomić, Niko Radulović, Milan Dekić, Vladimir Ranđelović, and Olgica Stefanović

Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia

E-mail: lab3zmm@yahoo.com

Received: 13 October 2009  Revised: 23 November 2009  Accepted: 24 November 2009

Abstract: The present study gives results of chemical composition analyses and antimicrobial activity testing of three Erodium species: E. ciconium L., E. cicutarium L., and E. absinthoides Willd. Essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation from air-dried entire plants and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. A total of 209 different compounds were identified: 162 for E. cicutarium, 107 for E. ciconium, and 79 for E. absinthoides. Antimicrobial activity (broth microdilution method) of the oils was screened against a panel of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and a number of fungi. Moderate susceptibility of all tested strains was observed. Determined MIC values were 0.156–5 mg mL⁻¹ (bacterial strains) and 0.039–0.325 mg mL⁻¹ (fungal strains). Major component of the most active oil, palmitic acid, was also tested for activity together with stearic and myristic acids.

Keywords: Erodium  - essential oils - antimicrobial activity - palmitic acid - Geraniaceae

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-010-0014-x

Chemical Papers 64 (3) 368–377 (2010)