Study on Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Allium latifolium Gilib. (Liliaceae) Extract

Allium latifolium Gilib. (Liliaceae) is a Persian native plant, grown in Cool regions of Iran. It is used by natives as additive and preservative for prolonged preserving of some of the foods and utilized in folk medicine for treatment of such varied physical disorders as burns, wounds, headaches, colds and rheumatism. The aim of this study was to investigate chemical composition of the essential oil; antioxidant activity, antibacterial and antifungal activities of alcoholic extract of A. latifolium Gilib. (Liliaceae) aerial parts. Twenty eight components were identified constituting 91.6% of total oil. Thymol (22.8%), dimethyl trisulfide (17.9%), 4-methyl-5-thiazo ethanol (7.5%), (Z)-beta-ocimene (5.8%) and carvacrol (5.1%) were the major components. Four sulfur containing compounds comprising 30.5% of total oil were identified. The ethanolic extract was subjected to screening for its possible antioxidant activity. DPPH free radical scavenging, FTC system and total phenolic compounds were used for this purpose. Ethanolic extract of A. latifolium inhibited both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. MIC of ethanolic extract of A. latifolium against yeasts (C. albicans and S. cerevisiae) was the lowest (2.5 mu g/ml) (P<0.05). The lowest MIC of ethanolic extract of A. latifolium against bacteria was observed against B. subtilis (3.75 mu g/ml) (P<0.05).