Abstract
The essential oil of the flowers of Tridax procumbens L. was obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twenty-six compounds were identified, which comprised 90.6% of the total constituents. The most abundant compound was (Z)-falcarinol (25.9%), followed by α-selinene (15.3%), limonene (8.3%) and zerumbone (4.3%). Antimicrobial activity was tested against six Gram-positive and eight Gram-negative bacteria, and three fungi. The oil was active against the tested Gram-positive bacteria at a concentration range of 0.14 ± 0.03 - 0.57±0.05 mg/mL, while 0.67 ± 0.12 - 4.58 ± 0.41 mg/mL was effective against the studied Gram-negative bacteria. Remarkable antifungal activity was found against the tested fungi at a concentration range of 0.06 ± 0.008 - 0.10 ± 0.01 mg/mL.
