Essential oil of the flowers of Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae)

Abstract

Essential oil of the flowers of Azadirachta indica was obtained at 0.001% yield by steam distillation. It mainly consisted of α-cubebene (3.04%), copaene (7.03 %), humulene (3.7 %), δ-cadinene (9.43 %) and a number of sesquiterpenes. The oil also contained a series of unidentified organosulphur compounds. These organosulphur compounds were picked up by the S34 isotope. The oil exhibited antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) and Microsporum gypseum (Clinical isolated).

Keywords

• Azadirachta indica
• flowers
• steam distillation
• volatile constituents
• organosulphur