In vitro antibacterial activity of the Hertia cheirifolia L.essential oils

Objective:To investigate the antibacterial activity of essential oils from Hertia cheirifolia L.flowers,vegetative part(leaves+stems)and roots against a panel of bacterial strains.Methods:The essential oils from Hertia cheirifolia L.flowers,vegetative part(leaves+stems)and roots were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.The antibacterial activity of essential oils was evaluated in vitro by the broth dilution method.Results:The results showed that the essential oil of flowers exhibited a strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.078 mg/mL.Conclusions:The essential oils of Hertia cheirifolia can be a good source of antibacterial compounds.They can be used for pharmaceutical treatments.