Gaultheria longibracteolata, an alternative source of wintergreen oil

Gaultheria longibracteolata (Ericaceae) has been traditionally used by different linguistic groups in Yunnan Province, China, but it has not been well studied. Through our ethnobotanical study in Lüchun County of Yunnan, we found that this species has multiple traditional uses including food, medicine, and worship. The essential oils from the root, stem, and leaf were investigated by both GC-MS and anti-bacterial assays. The GC-MS study showed that methyl salicylate is the main (>90%) component of the essential oil, and the oil composition extracted from different plant parts showed some similarities. The oil of G. longibracteolata displayed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, which is likely due to its methyl salicylate content. Gautheria longbracteolata appears to be a useful natural wintergreen oil substitute, but further studies are needed to develop this product.