Active constituents and antimicrobial activity of Trichodesma africanum, L. R.Br. var. Heterotrichum bornm and Kneuck

Twenty-four components of the essential oil of Trichodesma africanum (L.) R.Br. var. heterotrichum Bornm.& Kneuck. (Boraginaceae) were identified using GC-Mass , where the major constituents were caryophyllene oxide (16.05%), 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (13.02%), cadina-1, 4-diene (8.60%), β-gurjunene (7.51%), 2-pentadecanone, 6, 10, 14-trimethyl (5.75%) and β-caryophyllene (5.57%). Ascultin, umbelliferone and scopoletin as coumarin compounds were isolated from ether and ethyl acetate extracts using TLC, while the flavonoid and phenolic acid compounds: luteolin-7diglucoside, luteolin 7-O--L rhamnosyl (1-6) ß-D-glucoside, quercetin, apigenin and gallic acid were separated from methanol extracts using paper chromatography. Antimicrobial effects of the essential oil, petroleum ether and diethyl ether extracts on some selected micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) indicated positive results. Kew words: anti-microbial effects, coumarins, essential oil, flavonoids, Trichodesma africanum.