CHEMOVARIANT OF MELALEUCA QUINQUENERVIA (CAV.) S.T.BLAKE AND ITS ANTI-PATHOGEN ACTIVITY

Vasundhara M.*, Priyanka R., Sheetal R. Gujaran, Ashwini Jayaram and Radhika B.

ABSTRACT

Melaleuca species display chemotypic variations due to biotic and abiotic influence. Characterization of the chemical variant in a volatile oil is of prime importance for authentication of the sample and for evaluating its pharmacological activity. A study aimed at identifying a chemical variant of the essential oil extracted from Melaleuca quinquenervia, through Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was conducted. E-Nerolidol, a sesquiterpene alcohol and this component was identified as the characteristic chemical variant of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Niaouli) was identified. Also, the essential oil of M.quinquenervia extracted on dry weight basis was screened against Oral and skin pathogens. The volatile oil displayed maximum growth inhibitory activity against dental and skin pathogenic strains. The potent antimicrobial activity exhibited could be due to the enhanced bacterial permeability and susceptibility to Nerolidol, a major component of M.quinquenervia essential oil.

Keywords: Niaouli oil, E-Nerolidol, Pathogenicity.