Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the contents of total phenol as well as antioxidant activity, the chemical composition and anti-dermatophytic activity of the Vitex trifolia (Family: Lamiaceae) essential oil of the leaves. Hydro-distillation of the V. trifolia was carried out using Clavenger Vendor to obtain the volatile oil. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and DPPH radical scavenging assay test by spectrophotometric methods. Gas chromatography- mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analyses (BP - 1 chrompack capillary column) of the essential oil was performed and its composition determined. The in-vitro anti-dermatophytic activity was evaluated both by agar diffusion and microbroth dilution methods against Candida albicans ATCC 90029, C. albicans ATCC 1162, C. albicans ATCC Y-9-19, C. parapsilosis ATCC 20019, C. glabrata ATTC 91030, C. krusei ATCC 6258, C. krusei ATCC 71061-1113 and C. kefyr ATCC 1110. The fresh leaves were yielded 0.21% of yellowish colour essential oil. By GC-MS analysis of the essential oil, 50 constituents were identified. 1R-α-pinene, Ocimene, 3-carene, Toluene, p-ethyl-, Eucalyptol and 3-methoxy-5-methylphenol were the major constituents. The V. trifolia contained appreciable levels of amount of total phenolic content (74.66μg GAE/100mg) of the fresh weight and the DPPH free radical scavenging activity (the IC50 = 5.2 μg/ml). The anti-dermatophytic activity showed that essential oil had some antifungal activity on the tested Candida in the concentration 500 μg/ml. The highest antifungal activity was C. krusei ATCC 6258 and C. kefyr ATCC 1110 (zone diameter 27.97±0.4 mm and 23.88±0.8 mm) respectively and C. krusei ATCC 6258 (MIC = 1.953125 μl/ml).

Keywords: Vitex trifolia, Essential oils, GC-MS, Total phenolic content, Antioxidant activity, Anti-dermatophytic activity