Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Essential Oil From the Leaves of Vernonia volkameriifolia DC.

Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the essential oil (EO) extracted from the leaves of Vernonia volkameriifolia DC., a Vietnamese plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. The focus was on determining the chemical composition of the EO and assessing its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Methods The EO obtained from V. volkameriifolia underwent comprehensive analysis using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to identify its chemical constituents. Antimicrobial activity was determined against eight microorganisms using the broth microdilution susceptibility method, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values calculated. Additionally, antioxidant activity was assessed through DPPH and ABTS assays, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values indicating the potency of the EO. Results The main components of the V. volkameriifolia EO were identified as β-bisabolene (25.2%), β-pinene (19.1%), germacrene D (13.1%), and cis-β-elemene (11.4%). The EO exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, with a MIC value of 200 μg/mL against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Additionally, it displayed activity against Candida albicans with a MIC value of 100 μg/mL. In antioxidant tests, the EO demonstrated notable potential, with IC 50 values of 144.1 μg/mL and 179.8 μg/mL for DPPH and ABTS, respectively. Conclusion This study represents the inaugural investigation into the EO extracted from the leaves of V. volkameriifolia. The identified chemical components, along with the demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, contribute valuable insights into the potential applications of V. volkameriifolia EO in pharmaceutical and therapeutic contexts. Further research can build upon these findings to uncover additional properties and applications of this EO.