Velamo do campo: its volatile constituents, secretory elements, and biological activity

The volatile components from Croton campestris root bark were localized by an anatomical study and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the first time. The roots of this plant showed secretory cells. These volatile constituents, isolated from the dichloromethane extract by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We found 69 components. They were characterized, and the major constituents of crude oil root barks were spathulenol (23.3%) and borneol (18.7%). Growth inhibitory activity of the active compounds in solution was evaluated by measuring minimal inhibitory concentrations using a broth micromethod. The minimal inhibitory concentration of root bark volatile constituents was 1.56 μg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, 3.125 μg/mL for Candida albicans, and 6.25 μg/mL for Aspergillusniger.