ANTIMICROBIAL, CYTOTOXIC, AND ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITIES OF SALVIA-FRUCTICOSA ESSENTIAL OIL

Salvia fructicosa essential oil analyzed by gas chromatography/mass sp ectrometry showed high contents of 1,8-cineole, alpha- and beta-thujon e, and camphor, representing 47.48%, 11.93%, and 9.04% of the total oi l, respectively. The essential oil and its isolated components thujone and 1,8-cineole exhibited antimicrobial activity against eight bacter ial strains, while camphor was almost inactive against all of the bact eria tested. The essential oil was bactericidal at 1/4000 dilution, an d dilutions up to 1/10000 caused considerable decrease in bacterial gr owth rates. The essential oil of S. fructicosa and the three main comp onents exhibited cytotoxic activity against African Green Monkey kidne y (Vero) cells and high levels of virucidal. activity against herpes s implex virus 1, a ubiquitous human virus.