Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Myrtus communis leaves

The aim of this work is to determine the yield of the essential oil of the Myrtus communis leaves, to identify its chemical composition and to evaluate its antibacterial properties. The plant is harvested from Sidi Ahmed Chrif, a region in Ouazzane, Morocco. The extraction of the essential oil was carried out by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus type. The average yield was 0.7%. The analysis of this oil by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrum (GC/MS) allows the identification of 32 compounds. Eucalyptol was the main compound with 42.43%, followed by myrtenyl acetate (21.25%) and α-pinene (19.39%). Myrtle essential oil has a moderate inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm) with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC of 1.32 mg/mL) followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (15 mm, MIC of 2.64 mg/mL) and lately Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus epidermis share the same inhibition diameter (11mm and even MIC 6.6 mg/mL). While Pseudomonas aeroginosae was very resistant to this essential oil. We have also noticed the existence of a bactericidal activity against the four previously mentioned bacteria.