Search

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from Mentha longifolia of South Africa origin was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. A total of 31 components were identified, accounting for 99.7% of the oil composition. Menthone (50.9%), pulegone (19.3%) and 1,8-cineole (11.9%) were the major constituents of the oil. The oil was screened against Gram + and Gram - bacteria and found to be very active against Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus kristinae, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.039 to 0.078 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]