Volatile analysis and antimicrobial screening of the parasitic plant Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. from Nepal

Nat Prod Res. 2014;28(2):106-10. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2013.847440. Epub 2013 Oct 11.

Abstract

The essential oil from the parasitic vine Cuscuta reflexa Roxb., collected from Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal, was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. From a total of 62 peaks, 61 compounds were identified in the oil, accounting for 99.6% of the oil. The majority of the essential oil was dominated by the relatively rare component cis-3-butyl-4-vinylcyclopentane (26.4%). The oil also contained substantial amounts of limonene (5.1%) and (E)-nerolidol (9.5%). Biological screening for antimicrobial activities did not show appreciable activity against either Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) or Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. However, marginal activity against Aspergillus niger was observed (minimum inhibitory concentration = 313 μg/mL).

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Aspergillus niger / drug effects
  • Cuscuta / chemistry*
  • Cyclohexenes / analysis
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Limonene
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Nepal
  • Oils, Volatile / analysis*
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects
  • Sesquiterpenes / analysis
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Terpenes / analysis

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Cyclohexenes
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Terpenes
  • Limonene
  • nerolidol