Chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil from Lippia javanica (Verbenaceae)

Abstract

Abstract. GC-MS was used in the investigation of the essential oils chemical composition isolated from the leaves of Lippia javanica. A total of 22 components were identified accounting for 76.85% of the oil composition. The oil is characterized by Monoterpenes as shown by the high percentage of Artemisia ketone (49.52%), m-tert-Butylphenol (8.73%), Linalool (4.43%), beta-myrecene (3.13%), Targetone (2.85%) and Isopiperitenone (2.13%). Sesquiterpenes constituted only 6.06% of the total oil. The oil showed inhibitory effects on the visible growth of Fusarium gramenearum while there was no observable activity of the oil against Fusarium moniliforme. The extent of inhibition of visible fungal growth was dependent on the oil concentration. The oil's Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value was found to be 27.07 mg/ml. The results obtained shows that the essential oil from L. Javanica can be used to inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi that causes maize diseases in the farms