Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Leaves of Etlingera velutina

Objectives: The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oils areimportant because they offer a natural and effective agent. This study aims toinvestigate the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity ofthe essential oil of leaves of Etlingera velutina. Methods: The essential oils from the leaves of Etlingera velutina were obtainedusing a Clevenger-type apparatus, and the chemical compositions of the oils wereidentified by GC-FID and GC-MS methods. The antioxidant activity of the oil wasanalyzed using three common assays. The antimicrobial activity of the oil wasevaluated by disc diffusion assay. Results: The oil consists of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons with the highest percentage(63.12%). Aromadendrene (58.30%), α-pinene (10.82%), and caryophyllenylalcohol (10.21%) were identified as the main components of the essential oil. Theleaf oil exhibited antioxidant activity in all the tests: DPPH radical scavengingactivity (RSA), β-carotene bleaching (BCB), and ferrous ion chelating ability(FIC). The oil presented activity against B. subtilis, E. aerogenes, P. vulgaris, andCandida parapsilosis. Conclusion: The data suggest that the essential oil of the leaves of Etlingera velutinarevealed moderate activity against selected microorganisms in antimicrobial andantioxidant assay. It may be considered as a natural agent for bioactivty