Chemical compositions and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oils from Magnolia grandiflora, Chrysactinia mexicana, and schinus molle found in northeast Mexico

The essential oils from Magnolia grandiflora and Chrysactinia mexicana leaves, and from Schinus molle leaves and fruit, were characterized by gas chromatography/flame-ionization detection and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Twenty-eight compounds from M. grandiflora leaves were identified (representing 93.6 per cent of the total area of the gas chromatogram), with the major component being bornyl acetate (20.9 per cent). Colorless and yellow oils were obtained from the C. mexicana leaves with 18 (86.7 per cent)and 11 (100 per cent)compounds identified, respectively. In both fractions, the principal component was sylvestrene (36.8 per cent and 41.1 per cent, respectively). The essential oils of S. molle leaves and fruit were each separated into colorless and yellow fractions, in which 14 (98.2)and 20 (99.8 per cent)compounds were identified. The main component was ?-phellandrene in all fractions (between 32.8 per cent and 45.0 per cent). The M. grandiflora oil displayed antifungal activity against five dermatophyte strains. The oils from S. molle and M. grandiflora leaves had antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, which cause skin infections that potentially may lead to sepsis. However, the antioxidant activities of all oils were small (half maximal effective concentration values >250 ?g/mL).