Isolation of the main compounds from the essential oils with preparative fraction collector and their biological activities

In this present work, chemical compositions, antimicrobial and antifungal activities of Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (Toothpick herb), Matricaria chamomilla L. (Chamomile), Juniperus sabina L. (Savin Juniper) and Widdringtonia whytei Rendle. (Mulanje cypress ) essential oils and isolated compounds from essential oils with preparative fraction collector have been investigated.Chemical compositions of the essential oils were performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. Identification of compound A which was detected in Ammi visnaga essential oil was determined by the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.The isolation of the main compounds detected in the essential oils was achieved by using a Gas Chromatography-Preparative Fraction Collector (GS-PFC) system. The enantiomeric compounds isolated from the essential oils were analyzed by GC using a chiral column and their optical rotations were measured to determine the enantiomeric status.Antimicrobial activities (antibacterial and anticandidal) were tested against some gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and some fungi using microdilution method. Ammi visnaga essential oil and the compound A which were isolated from the oil showed higher activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The compound A showed also antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Bisabolone oxide isolated from Matricaria chamomilla has also shown antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The other essential oils and compounds showed moderate activity against microorganisms.Key words: essential oil, GC/MS, Ammi visnaga, Matricaria chamomilla, Juniperus sabina, Widdringtonia whytei, isolation, preparative fraction collector, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity