Antimicrobial activity of Blumea balsamifera (Lin.) DC. extracts and essential oil

Leaves from Blumea balsamifera (Lin.) DC. are used in traditional Thai and Chinese medicine for the treatment of septic wounds and other infections.  In the present study, essential oil, hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol extracts of these leaves were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activity using the disc diffusion assay and agar microdilution method.  The essential oil was the most potent, with an MIC of 150 µg/mL against Bacillus cereus and an MIC of 1.2 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.  Activity was also detected from the hexane extract against Enterobacter cloacae and S. aureus.  MBCs and MFCs were typically equal to or two-fold higher than the MICs for both extracts, indicating microbicidal activity.  Data presented here shows that B. balsamifera extracts have activity against various infectious and toxin-producing microorganisms.  This plant’s active constituents could potentially be developed for use in the treatment and / or prevention of microbial disease.