Chemical composition, antibacterial and antifungal activities of Ruta graveolens L. volatile oils

The Ruta graveolens L. (Rutaceae) plant is used medicinally as a homeopathic remedy in various areas of the world. In this study, volatile oils were extracted from the areal parts of the plant which was collected from southern India, then investigated for its chemical constituents and antimicrobial activities. The volatile oils were extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus and samples were simultaneously analyzed with GC and GC-MS. As a result, a total of 13 chemical constituents were characterized. Representing 100% of the total oil with 2-ketones are the major groups. The principal components were identified, undecanone-2 (43.66%), 2-nonanone (16.09%), 2-acetoxy tetradecanone (14.49%), and nonyl cyclopropanecarboxylate (9.22%), respectively. The extracted volatile oil showed antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, resulting in a number of common human pathogenic bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the yeast Candida albicans. The zone of inhibition is from 12.57 ± 0.03 to 27.10 ± 0.02 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were within the antimicrobial activity range and varied between 0.70 ± 0.04 and 1.58 ± 0.05 μg/ mL. The essential oil showed maximum antifungal activity (35.10 ± 0.02 mm) against Candida albicans. This study indicates that R. graveolens L. essential oils could be used as a natural medical application in antimicrobial and antifungal treatments. *Corresponding author: Desam Nagarjuna Reddy, Center for Environmental Research & Studies, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114, Jazan, Saudi Arabia E-mail: [email protected]