Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the leaf and root oils from Croton hieronymi Griseb.

The volatile constituents of the leaf and root oils of Croton hieronymi Griseb. were studied by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-three and 32 compounds have been identified in leaf (60.2%) and root (86.2%) oils, respectively. The major components of the leaf oil were camphor (13.9%) and borneol (5.9%), whereas the root oil contained gamma-asarone (25.7%), borneol (19.0%), (E)-asarone (11.4%) and camphor (11.1%) as main constituents. The oils were tested for their inhibitory effect against four strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Saltnonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes) and one yeast (Candida albicans). The root oil was found to be active against E. coli and C. albicans, moderately effective against K pneumoniae and showed little or no activity against S. typhimurium and S. pyogenes. The leaf oil was active against K pneumoniae and moderately active against E. coli.