Chemical Constituents of the Essential Oil from Ecuadorian Endemic Species Croton ferrugineus and Its Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity

Croton ferrugineus Kunth is an endemic species of Ecuador used in traditional medicine both for wound healing and as an antiseptic. In this study, fresh Croton ferrugineus leaves were collected and subjected to hydrodistillation for extraction of the essential oil. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector and gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer using a non-polar and a polar chromatographic column. The antibacterial activity was assayed against three Gram-positive bacteria, one Gram-negative bacterium and one dermatophyte fungus. The radical scavenging properties of the essential oil was evaluated by means of DPPH and ABTS assays. The chemical analysis allowed us to identify thirty-five compounds representing more than 99.95% of the total composition. Aliphatic sesquiterpene hydrocarbon trans-caryophyllene was the main constituent with 20.47 +/- 1.25%. Other main compounds were myrcene (11.47 +/- 1.56%), beta-phellandrene (10.55 +/- 0.02%), germacrene D (7.60 +/- 0.60%), and alpha-humulene (5.49 +/- 0.38%). The essential oil from Croton ferrugineus presented moderate activity against Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) with an MIC of 1000 mu g/mL, a scavenging capacity SC50 of 901 +/- 20 mu g/mL with the ABTS method, and very strong antiglucosidase activity with an IC50 of 146 +/- 20 mu g/mL.

Automated summary

In this study, the essential oil extracted from fresh Croton ferrugineus leaves was analyzed for its chemical composition and showed promising antibacterial, radical scavenging, and antiglucosidase properties. The main compound identified in the essential oil was trans-caryophyllene, which exhibited moderate activity against Candida albicans and strong antiglucosidase activity. The results highlight the potential medicinal benefits of Croton ferrugineus as a natural remedy for various health conditions.