Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Volatile Oil of Six Gymnosperm Species Leaves from Shanghai

The chemical composition of six gymnosperm species, Sabina chinensis L. Art, Cedrus deodara Roxb G. Dor, S. chinensis (L.) Art, P. bungeana Zuccex Enall, Platgcladus orientalis Franco and Torryeya grandis Fortcv.Merrillii, and volatile oils obtained from the leaves by steam distillation was analysed using gas chromatograph and mass spectroscopy analysis (GC-MS). To evaluate in vitro antimicrobial activity, all volatile oils were tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The volatile oils of six gymnosperm species leaves have exhibited antibacterial activity, especially the oils of Sabina chinensis L. Art, S. chinensis L. Ar.t and Platgcladus orientalis Franco have excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, such as S. epidermidis and S. aureus, it also indicated that the constituents such as bornyl acetate, phellandrene, limonene and alpha-pinene and beta-pinene could also contribute to the antimicrobial activity of the volatile oils.