Campanula portenschlagiana ROEM. et SCHULT.: chemical and antimicrobial activities

The phytochemical profile and the antimicrobial effects of the volatile oil and the aqueous extract of Campanula portenschlagiana, a wild growing plant endemic to Croatia, were described. In the volatile oil, 53 compounds were identified by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. Diterpene alcohols constituted the major compound class with labda-13(16),14-dien-8-ol as the main compound. The aqueous extract was characterized by the total phenolic content. The antimicrobial potential of the volatile oil and the aqueous extract was evaluated against a diverse range of microorganisms comprising food-spoilage and food-borne pathogens. The volatile oil exhibited interesting and promising antimicrobial effects against the tested species, which were generally more pronounced against Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the inhibitory effect of this volatile oil was also evaluated against eleven extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates. The results suggest that the C. portenschlagiana volatile oil might be used as antimicrobial agent against ESBL-producing isolates and Gram-negative bacteria.