Essential oil composition and antibacterial activity of Lindera nacusua (D. Don) Merr

This study represents the first report on the chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oils from the leaves of Lindera nacusua (D. Don) Merr. Twenty-two compounds were identified and quantified, and the major components of the oil were Caryophyllene oxide (8.79%), Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (6.83%), β-Selinene (5.02%), Neophytadiene (4.53%), Palmitic acid (4.42%), Phytol (4.36%), α-Copaene (3.89%), 4a,5,8,8a-β-Tetrahydro-2,4,5-trimethyl-1,4-naphthalindione (3.83%), α-Cadinol (3.17%), Bulnesol (2.65%) and 1,4-Dimethyl-7-(1-methylethyl) azulene (2.38%). The in vitro antibacterial activities of the essential oils were evaluated by the disc diffusion method. The inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were 23.7 and 23 mm. So the essential oil of L. nacusua showed potent antibacterial activity and potential high selectivity against S. aureus and C. albicans.