Phytochemicals and antimicrobial activities of aerial parts and roots of Trigonella tehranica L. essential oils

Abstract

<strong>Background and objectives:</strong> <em>Trigonella tehranica</em> (Leguminosae) is an indigenous plant in northern regions of Iran. There were many reports about antimicrobial activity of other specious of this genus; therefore, the aim of present study was investigation of chemical compounds and antimicrobial activities of <em>T. tehranica</em> essential oils for the first time. <strong>Methods:</strong> The essential oils of aerial parts and roots of <em>T. tehranica</em> from Taleqan, Alborz Province, Iran were obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Antimicrobial activities of essential oils were tested against some Gram-positive bacteria (<em>Bacillus subtilis</em>, <em>Staphylococcus epidermidis</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>), Gram-negative bacteria (<em>Salmonella paratyphi-A</em>, <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em>, <em>Klebsiella pneumonia</em>, <em>Shigella dysenteriae</em> and <em>Proteus vulgarisis</em>) and fungi (<em>Aspergillus brasiliensis</em>, <em>Aspergillus niger</em> and <em>Candidia albicans</em>) via disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were reporte. <strong>Results:</strong> The abundant compounds of aerial parts essential oil were <em>n</em>-hexadecanoic acid (20.84%), camphane (11.45%) and neo-menthol (5.05%). The major volatiles of roots essential oil were hexanal (14.83%), butane, 2-methyl (13.39%) and 1-pentene (12.80%). The roots essential oil showed the most antimicrobial activitiy on <em>Bacillus stubtilis </em>(inhibition zone (IZ) equal to 21 mm) and the aerial parts essential oil demonstrated the most effects on <em>Bacillus stubtilis </em>(IZ as16 mm) and <em>Candida albicans</em> (IZ as 20 mm). <strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although essential oils of <em>T. tehranica</em> were effective on many examined microorganisms, their antifungal activity was higher significantly.