Phytochemical study of chinaberry melia azedarach L.essential oils and antimicrobial effects

Chinaberry, Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant with many uses in traditional medicine. It is used as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antifertility, hepatoprotective, dermatological disease, antidiabetic, immunological, antilithiatic, hypolipidemic, hypotensive effects. In this study, M. azedarach plant, which grows in Iraq, was collected and essential oils were obtained from different parts, including leaves, flowers and fruits, by water distillation in Clevenger apparatus, and fixed oil was obtained from seeds by Soxhlet apparatus, and their chemical compositions were determined by GC-FID and GC-MS methods. It is planned to elucidate the results and then examine the antimicrobial activities of the essential oils. Antibacterial activity studies of essential oils obtained from leaves, flowers and fruits were conducted on Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria and their minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) were determined. As a result, the major components were found as 27.7% phytol, 23.2% (E)-nerolidol and 14.2% pentacosane leaf, flower and fruit essential oils, respectively. The MIC values of essential oils of M. azedarach against Escherichia coli NRRL B-3008 strain were determined as 2000 µg/mL. The MIC values of leaf and fruit essential oils, which were found to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 strain, were determined as 1000 µg/mL and 6.25 µg/mL, respectively. Keywords: Melia azedarach, chinaberry tree , Essential oil, Antimicrobial activity