Chemical composition of essential oil from Myrcia oblongata DC and potencial antimicrobial, antioxidant and acaricidal activity against Dermanyssus gallinae (Degeer, 1778)

Abstract

Essential oils have aroused interest in the industrial sector due to the multitude of potential applications, especially with respect their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, among others. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Myrcia oblongata DC by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To evaluate the antioxidant potential of the oil by using the free radical capture method with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH); to test the oil antimicrobial activity using the broth microdilution method; and to evaluate the repellency and fumigant potential of the oil on Dermanyssus gallinae (Degeer, 1778). The GC-MS analysis resulted in the identification of 30 oil constituents, with the bulk of the composition identified as caryophyllene oxide (22.03%) and trans-verbenol (11.94%). The oil presented moderate antioxidant activity compared to the synthetic antioxidant 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT). Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil showed an inhibitory activity on Gram-positive bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis and for the yeast Candida albicans, and showed no activity against Gram-negative bacteria. All concentrations of the essential oil used in the fumigation test on D. gallinae resulted in mortality below 20%. For the repellency test, significant potential was observed for the concentration of 10%.