Essential oil composition and antibacterial activity of hyptis colombiana from the venezuelan andes

Abstract

Hyptis colombiana is an aromatic shrub native to the Colombian and Venezuelan Andes. Aerial parts were collected in Merida State at about 3100 m above sea level in February 2005, and May and October 2006. The essential oil was found to contain germacrene D and β-caryophyllene as main constituents (about 50%). The February 2005 and October 2006 oils were found to have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, but not the May 2006 oil, probably due to the lack of some minor constituent.