ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM ACHILLEA FRAGRANTISSIMA (FORSSK.) SCH.BIP.(ASTERACEAE) GROWING WILD IN NORTH BEKAA, LEBANON

Essential oil of fresh aerial parts of Achillea fragrantissima growing wild in Lebanese steppe was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed using Gas Chromatography and GC/Mass spectrometry.

Antimicrobial activityof the essential oil against 5 bacteria and 2 fungi was determined by diffusion and microdilution methods.

The results revealed a yield of 1.25 % v/w fresh weight of essential oil that had a yellowish color and pleasant fragrant aroma. Fifty onecompounds were identified.Artemisia ketone (29.97%), α-Thujone (13.34%), Germacrene (11.5%) followed by α-Cubebene (6.25%), Spathulenol (3.63%), β-Sesquiphellandrene (3.52%) and γ-Muurolene (3.27%) were the main components.

The oil displayed a high degree of inhibitory activity against the tested five bacteria: S. aureus, E. coli, E. faecalis,S. enteritidis, P. aeruginosathat was equal or greater than that of several commonly prescribed antibiotics. The oil also showed high antifungal activity against both C.albicans and A.fumigatuswith the latter exhibiting higher susceptibility to the oil than  that againstthe antifungalNystatine.

This study presents the first report on the chemical composition of the essential oil of Lebanese A.fragrantissima,and confirms the traditional therapeutic use of the plant. Further pharmacological research is needed to exploit this potential either alone or in combination with existing antibiotics as a promising contribution to the discovery of novel drugs against infections diseases.