Chemical Constituents and Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Kielmeyera coriacea Mart. & Zucc. Essential Oils

Abstract EN

Many essential oils (EOs) of different plant species possess interesting antimicrobial effects on buccal microorganisms and cytotoxic properties.

EOs of Kielmeyera coriacea Mart.

& Zucc.

were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

The EO from leaves is rich in sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes.

The three major compounds identified were germacrene-D (24.2%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.5%), and bicyclogermacrene (11.6%).

The inner bark EO is composed mainly of sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons and the major components are alpha-copaene (14.9%) and alpha-(E)-bergamotene (13.0%).

The outer bark EO is composed mainly of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and long-chain alkanes, and the major components are alpha-eudesmol (4.2%) and nonacosane (5.8%).

The wood EO is mainly composed of long-chain alkanes and fatty acids, and the major components are nonacosane (9.7%) and palmitic acid (16.2%).

The inner bark EO showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against the anaerobic bacteria Prevotella nigrescens (minimum inhibitory concentration-MIC of 50 µg mL−1).

The outer bark and wood EOs showed MICs of 100 µg mL−1 for all aerobic microorganisms tested.

The EOs presented low toxicity to Vero cells.

These results suggest that K.

coriacea, a Brazilian plant, provide initial evidence of a new and alternative source of substances with medicinal interest.