Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil of Vitex agnus-castus L. (Lamiaceae)

Abstract

Abnormal multiplication of oral bacteria causes dental caries and dental plaque. These diseases continue to be major public health concerns worldwide, mainly in developing countries. In this study, the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Vitex agnus-castus leaves (VAC‒EO) collected in the North of Brazil against a representative panel of cariogenic bacteria were investigated. The antimicrobial activity of VAC-EO was evaluated in terms of its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values by using the broth microdilution method in 96-well microplates. The chemical constituents of VAC-EO were identified by gas chromatography (GC‒FID) and gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC‒MS). VAC‒EO displayed some activity against all the investigated oral pathogens; MIC values ranged from 15.6 to 200 μg/mL. VAC-EO had promising activity against Streptococcus mutans (MIC= 15.6 μg/mL), Lactobacillus casei (MIC= 15.6 μg/mL), and Streptococcus mitis (MIC= 31.2 μg/mL). The compounds 1,8-cineole (23.8%), (E)-β-farnesene (14.6%), (E)-caryophyllene (12.5%), sabinene (11.4%), and α-terpinyl acetate (7.7%) were the major chemical constituents of VAC‒EO. VAC-EO displays antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria. The efficacy of VAC-EO against S. mutans is noteworthy and should be further investigated.

The Biofungicide Activity of Some Plant Essential Oils for the Cleaner Production of Model Linen Fibers Similar to Those Used in Ancient Egyptian Mummification

“…Table 5 presents the chemical constituents of V. agnus-castus fruit EO, where the main compounds are γ-elemene (41.59%), geranyllinalool (17.98%), eucalyptol (16.65%), nerolidyl acetate (11.63%), cis-caryophyllene (3.73%), α-pinene (2.58%), caryophyllene oxide (2.55%), and nerolidol (1.16%). The main chemical compounds identified in the EO of V. agnus-castus with strong antimicrobial activities were mostly 1,8-cineole or eucalyptol, sabinene, (E)-β-farnesene, (E)-caryophyllene, and α-terpinyl acetate [9,21,[65][66][67]. Further, 1,8-cineole has been proven to have good antifungal activity against Aspergillus apple rot [21].…”

Vitex agnus-castus L.: Main Features and Nutraceutical Perspectives

“…The administration of active ethyl acetate extract of V. agnus-castus L. leaf exhibited antibacterial potential against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MIC = 0.312 mg/mL) owing to steroids, terpenoids, and flavonoids [70]. Vitex agnus-castus L. leaf essential oil eliminated the cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans (MIC = 15.6 µg/mL) [71]. In another study, alcoholic and aqueous extracts had an antifungal effect on C. albicans isolated from clinical vaginal infections [72].…”

Current Application of Vitex Agnus-Castus L., Based in Uses Mentioned by Ibn Rushd – A Review

“…Different classes of secondary metabolites that have been isolated from various parts of V. agnus-castus; fruits containing iridoids and iridoid glycosides (casticin, aucubin, and agnuside) [3,5]; flavonoids (apigenin, castican, orientin, penduletin, and isovitexin), flavonoid O-or C-glycosides (orientin and vitexin); and flavonoids, luteolin 6-C-(4″-methyl-6″-O-trans-caffeoylglucoside), luteolin 6-C-(6″-O-transcaffeoylglucoside), luteolin 6-C-(2″-O-trans-caffeoylglucoside), and luteolin 7-O-(6″-p-benzoylglucoside) were isolated from the root bark of the plant., diterpenoids ( vitexilactone and rotundifuran), diterpene lactam (vitexlactam A); p-hydroxybenzoic acid β-sitosterol; and primary metabolites fatty acids (oleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid) [3,[5][6][7][8]. Essential oils also presented in chasteberry (1,8-cineole, (E)-β-farnesene, (E)-caryophyllene, sabinene, limonene, cineol, and α-terpinyl acetate were the major essential oils [9]. The current applications of V. agnus-castus are mainly to alleviate the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms that have been linked with a low level of progesterone relative to estrogen, so it is easy to see how chasteberry may help.…”