Chemical Composition, Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of the Essential Oil from Leaves of Psidium guajava L.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) leaf essential oil (GLEO) was extracted by water distillation, and its in vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial properties were evaluated. Using GC/MS to determine the chemical components of GLEO, 27 constituents were identified, accounting for 74.90 % of the total oil content, among which L-caryophyllene (24.46 %), L-calamenene (10.82 %), (-)-globulol (10.69 %), and alpha-copaene (8.71 %) were the main components. Subsequently, the antioxidant activity of GLEO was determined by DPPH, ABTS, and beta-carotene bleaching tests. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of GLEO for three free radicals were IC50=17.66 +/- 0.07 mu g/mL, IC50=19.28 +/- 0.03 mu g/mL, and IC50=3.17 +/- 0.01 mu g/mL, respectively. Moreover, GLEO exhibited remarkable alpha-amylase (IC50=13.99 +/- 0.34 mu g/mL) and alpha-glucosidase (IC50=5.50 +/- 1.02 mu g/mL) inhibitory activities. It was effective against Streptomyces acidiscabies (MIC=1.25 mu g/mL), Ralstonia solanacearum (MIC=5 mu g/mL), and Erwinia carotovora subsp carotovora borgey (MIC=2.5 mu g/mL), showing significant antibacterial properties. Based on the findings, given the high biological activity of GLEO, it is a biological preservative for food, medicine, and cosmetics and is valuable in natural therapy and crop disease management.

Automated summary

Guava leaf essential oil (GLEO) extracted by water distillation showed antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial properties. It can be used as a biological preservative in food, medicine, and cosmetics, and is valuable in natural therapy and crop disease management.