Chemical composition and antibacterial activities of essential oils from Homalomena pierreana (Araceae)

Abstract

<em>Homalomena</em> is a genus of the Araceae family which contains several remedies used extensively in traditional Vietnamese medicine. <em>H. pierreana</em> is a rare plant species of <em>Homalomena </em>genus and found only in Phu Quoc National Park, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam. Therefore, the number of studies about this species is limited and the bioactivity of this species is still unknown. In this study, the chemical composition of essential oils was investigated which was isolated from leaves and rhizomes of <em>H. pierreana </em>at the first time by GC-MS. Eight and twelve compounds were identified from the essential oils of rhizomes and leaves, respectively. The major component from both the rhizomes and the leaves was aromadendrene (44 and 48%, respectively). Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of essential oils collected from leaves and rhizomes of <em>H. pierreana</em> was investigated and it was observed that the essential oil of rhizomes could inhibit the growth of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Escherichia coli </em>and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, while the essential oil of leaves exhibited an inhibitory effect against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> and <em>Escherichia coli.</em>