Abstract
Introduction: Renealmia thyrsoidea (Ruiz & Pav) Poepp. & Eddl, popularly known as shiwanku muyu, is a medicinal plant used by several Ecuadorian Amazonian indigenous peoples for its analgesic, anti-flu, anti-ophidic and anti-malarial properties. Its rhizomes contain essential oil as is characteristic of several species of the Zingiberaceae family. Objective: To identify the components of the essential oil of the rhizome of R. thyrsoidea, and to evaluate its antimicrobial and free radical scavenging biological activity. Methods: The essential oil molecules were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using two columns of different polarity, a DB1-MS (apolar) and a DBWax-MS (intermediate polarity). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging methods and the antimicrobial activity by the disc diffusion method. Subsequently, their minimum inhibitory concentration was calculated. Conclusions: The traditional uses of R. thyrsoidea as analgesic and anti-flu might be related to the high concentration of α- and β-pinenes in the oil. Due to the activity against candidiasis, the essential oil could be recommended as a treatment for the diseases caused by the yeasts studied. The evaluation of radical scavenging activity shows low values compared to the natural control and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).
| Translated title of the contribution | Composición Química y Actividad Antimicrobiana del Aceite Esencial de Rizomas de Renealmia Thyrsoidea (Ruiz & Pav) Poepp. y Eddl (Shiwanku Muyu) |
|---|---|
| Original language | English (US) |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-23 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | Revista Cubana de Plantas Medicinales |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 22 |
| State | Published - 28 Nov 2018 |
Keywords
- Antimicrobial activity
- Antioxidant activity
- Chemical composition
- Essential oil
- Gc/ms
- Renealmia thyrsoidea
CACES Knowledge Areas
- 215A Biochemistry