Abstract

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of Aegle marmelos (L.)Correa leaves were analyzed by GC/MS yield (0.9% v/w). Twenty seven components were identified representing 97.76 % of the total oil composition. The major components were α-phellenderene (20.97%), α-pinene (17.76%) and δ-carene (16.37%) and other abundant components as γ-cadinene (8.01%), trans-2-hydroxycinnmic acid (6.85%) and β-myrcene (4.32%). The essential oil exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria as Streptococcus faecalis with inhibition zone (30 mm) and Gram-negative bacteria as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28 mm). Moreover, moderate activity was observed against Bacillus subtilis (23 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (23 mm), Sarcina lutea (20 mm), Arthrobacter citreus (20 mm) and Escherichia coli (25 mm) in comparison with antibiotics. The antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger (30 mm) and Candida albicans (30 mm) was higher than the antifungal antibiotics. Moreover, the oil inhibited the germination of Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum spores at different concentrations.

Key words: Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa, essential oil, antimicrobial and antifungal activities, spore germenation.