Investigation of antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Echinophora cinerea Bioss (medicine plant)

In the flora Iranica this genus is represented by ten species، four of which are endemic. The genus Echinophora is known for medicinal value، antimicrobial properties. the aerial parts of Echinophora were collected during the flowering stage from Sisakt Hill in Yasoj province، in September 2009 and were hydrodistilled for 4 hours، using a Clevenger-type apparatus to yield 0. 5 % (w/v) of yellowish oil and analyzed with GC and GC/MS. The constituents of the essential oil were identified by comparison of their mass spectra and retention indices (RI) with those given in the literature and authentic samples. Antimicrobial activities of the essential oil were investigated according to the disk diffusion method. Twenty –one compounds were characterized in the essential oil of E. cinerea representing 96. 73% of the oil، of which transe –β-cimene (36. 6%)، myrcene (6. 3%)، linalool (27. 19%)، were found to be the major components. The oil of of E. cinerea showed high antimicrobial activity against staphylococcus aureua،staphylococcus epidermidisium،Ecoli and fungus such as candida albicans which is due to present of linalool in the essential oil، also comparison of the effect of essential oil of Echinophora cinerea with used antibiotics showed that the effect of essence in less concentrations is the same of tetracycline and Gentamicin.