Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of endemic Centaurea cariensis subsp niveo-tomentosa

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of the n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethyl alcohol extracts of the aerial parts of Centaurea cariensis subsp. niveo-tomentosa was evaluated against microorganisms, including multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria, using the paper disc diffusion method. The chemical composition of the chloroform extract of this plant was determined by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The chloroform extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity for all bacteria tested, which are important pathogens. The major compounds of the chloroform extract were caryophyllene oxide (20.79%), spathulenol (14.73%), -eudesmol (9.27%), -caryophyllene (6.84%), n-cetylalcohol (6.27%), cubenol (5.23%) and cis--santalol (4.67%), respectively.