Composition and anti-microbial activity of essential oil of Myristica fragrans from Andaman Nicobar Island

Abstract

The essential oil obtained by hydro-distillation of the fruits oil of Myristica fragrans Houtt (Nutmeg) collected from Andaman Nicobar Island the oil was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Twenty eight compounds were identified, accounting for 92.9% of the contents. The major constituents were α-pinene (9.4%), Sabinene (41.7), β-pinene (7.3%), myrcene (2.5%), Limonene (3.7%), Terpine-4-ol (5.8 %), Safrole (1.4%) and Myristicin (2.7 %). This is the first report of the essential oil constituents of M. fragrans Houtt from Andaman Nicobar Island. The micro-biological activity of the isolated essential oil was investigated as well. It was found that the essential oil shows micro-biological activity except with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans.