Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.): GC/MS profiling, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of stem essential oil

Abstract Background Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod. ( Acanthaceae ) is a renowned medicinal plant used to ease menstrual cramps and treat female infertility, anaemia, dysentery, urinary tract infection haemorrhoids. Essential oils their constituents from herbs have also been utilised in the management of good number ailments ethno-medicine. The chemical composition, antioxidant antimicrobial activities stem essential oil are investigated this study. was obtained by hydro-distillation using an all-glass Clevenger apparatus. Identification characterisation were done Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, while activity evaluated with 2, 2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH*) method. property assessed broth dilution Results contained forty-three compounds constituting 62.87% total composition. It dominated non-terpene derivatives, which (14β)-Pregnane (17.58%) most abundant compound. Other significant identified include n -decane (2.3%), norbornane (2.2%), (−)-α-Copaene (1.5%), 10-epizonarene thymol (1.25) (−)-α-phellandrene (1.12%). exhibited (IC 50 0.7296 μg/mL), more active than standards; vitamin C 0.8728 μg/mL) butylated hydroxy anisole 0.8729 for assay. Also, inhibited bacterial fungal strains at concentrations ranging 100 3.125 μg/mL minimum inhibitory concentration between 3.5 6.5 μg/mL. Conclusion composition E. could be responsible pharmacological applications ethno-medicine constituent reported first time. Graphical