Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.): GC/MS profiling, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of stem essential oil

Abstract

Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod. (Acanthaceae) is a renowned medicinal plant used to ease menstrual cramps and treat female infertility, anaemia, dysentery, urinary tract infection and haemorrhoids. Essential oils and their constituents from herbs have also been utilised in the management of a good number of ailments in ethno-medicine. The chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the stem essential oil are investigated in this study. The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation using an all-glass Clevenger apparatus. Identification and characterisation were done using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, while antioxidant activity was evaluated with 2, 2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH*) method. The antimicrobial property was assessed by the broth dilution method.