Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial Activity, Antioxidant and Total Phenolic Content of the Essential Oil of Phlomis aucheri Boiss Growing Wild in Iran

Thegenus Phlomis is comprised of about 100 species، 17 are described in flora of Iran، among which 10 are endemic. In this work، we report on the antimicrobial activity and composition of the essential oil of Phlomis aucheri Boiss (Herbarium No: 91021، TARI) growing wild in Iran. The chemical composition of the essential oil of P. aucheri، collected from Tehran، Province of Iran، were analysed by GC and GC/MS. Fourty-seven components were characterized from the essential oil of P. aucheri، representing 92. 88% of the total components were identified. E-anethole 24. 58% was found to be the major constituent in the oil of P. aucheri، followed by germacrene D (11. 1%)، bicyclogermacrene (6. 3%)، spathulenol (6. 01%)، β-caryophyllene (5. 58%)، neryl acetate (4. 58%) and germacrene B (4. 53%). As mentioned before، sesquiterpenes (51. 82%) were the major compounds in the oil of P. aucheri followed by non terpenoid compounds (27. 74%) and monoterpenes (13. 32%). The antibacterial activity of the essential oil of P. aucheri was evaluated against three gram positive and three gram negative bacteria strains. The results of antibacterial activity showed that the oil of P. aucheri had antibacterial activity against Bacillus anthracis. Antioxidant activity of the essential oil of P. aucheri was determined by three The Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)، Radical-scavenging capacity of the oil or bleaching of 2،20-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-Carotene-linoleic acid assay. The results suggest application of P. aucheri oil as a natural antioxidant agent.