Constituents of the essential oil of Cymbopogon afronardus Stapf.

J.W.MWANGI; G.N.THOITHI; I.O. KIBWAGE; JULIO A. ZYGADLO; MARÍA L. LÓPEZ; M.M. OLIVA; M.S. DEMO; M. TOYOTA; J-C. CHALCHAT

East and Central African Journal of pharmaceutical Sciences

Año: 2001 vol. 4 p. 43 - 47

The pleasently smelling light yellow essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the leaves of Cymbopogon afronardus (Graminea) (yield 0.4%) was analysed by GC and GC-MS. Forty five compounds constituting about 95.9% of the oil were identified. The major constituents were 5-epiparadisol and intermedeol (40.9% together), 6S:7R bisabolone (39.5%) and 6R:7R-bisabolone (4.4%). The essential oil of C. afronardus was significantly from that of C. nardus (L.) Rendle. The antimicrobial activity of the oil is also reported.