Antimicrobial activity of essential oil and methanol extract from Commiphora molmol (Engl.) resin

The genus Commiphora (Burseraceae) with more than 150 plant species, is distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions, especially occurring in northeastern Africa, southern Arabia and India (Langenheim, 2003). The plants of Commiphora species are characterized as small trees or shrubs with spinescent branches, pale-gray bark and reddishbrown resinous exudates. The resinous exudates of the genus Commiphora are commonly used as perfume, incense, or embalming ointment, and their medicinal values have been gradually recognized by humankind (Langenheim, 2003). They are used in indigenous medicines for the treatment of wound, pain, arthritis, fractures, obesity, parasitic infection and gastrointestinal diseases (Abdul-Ghani et al., 2009). Diverse secondary metabolites including terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, sugars, lignans, etc. have been discovered in this genus (Hanu et al., 2005). Antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective and cardiovascular properties of the purified metabolites and the crude extracts have been investigated (El Ashry et al., 2003). The distribution of fifty-one constituents and medical uses of myrrh was reviewed ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 2 Number 12 (2013) pp. 1-6 http://www.ijcmas.com