2026
Onocha, Patricia A.; Oloyede, Ganiyat K.; Erakhumen, Marvellous E.; Ibok, Michael G.; Onuche, Samuel; Ikotun, Oluwatoyosi M.; Idriz, Olarewaju L.
Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of leaf and twig essential oils of Micriodesmis puberula (Pandaceae) Journal Article
In: SEODA Journal of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants , vol. 1, 2026.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Antimicrobial activity, Antioxidant activity, Chemical constituents, Essential oils, Hydrodistillation, Microdesmis puberula
@article{nokey,
title = {Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of leaf and twig essential oils of Micriodesmis puberula (Pandaceae)},
author = {Patricia A. Onocha and Ganiyat K. Oloyede and Marvellous E. Erakhumen and Michael G. Ibok and Samuel Onuche and Oluwatoyosi M. Ikotun and Olarewaju L. Idriz},
url = {https://journal.seoda.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ARTICLE-4.pdf},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-02-15},
urldate = {2026-02-15},
journal = {SEODA Journal of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants },
volume = {1},
abstract = {Microdesmis puberula (PROTA) is widely utilised in traditional medicine across West and Central Africa for treating infections, inflammatory conditions, and reproductive disorders. This study presents the first comparative chemical and bioactivity analysis of essential oils derived from the leaves and twigs of this plant. Essential oils were extracted via hydrodistillation and characterised using GC-MS. Antimicrobial properties were assessed against six bacterial and four fungal strains using agar diffusion assays, while antioxidant activity was evaluated through DPPH free radical scavenging. The leaf and twig oils yielded 0.16% and 0.18% (w/w), respectively, and comprised 21 and 11 identified compounds, respectively. Leaf oil was dominated by non-terpenoids (43.27%), with (3E,7E)-4,8,12-trimethyltridec-1,3,7,11-tetraene as the major constituent, whereas twig oil contained high levels of fatty acids, predominantly palmitic acid (44.72%). Both oils exhibited moderate, concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity, with the twig oil showing notable inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18±0.003 - 10±0.000 mm) and Salmonella typhi (18±0.003 - 10±0.002 mm). Antioxidant evaluation revealed moderate radical-scavenging capacity, with IC₅₀ values of 1.00 μg/mL (leaf) and 1.35 μg/mL (twig). The bioactivity of the oils may be attributed to synergistic interactions among major and minor constituents. These findings support the ethnopharmacological relevance of M. puberula and highlight its potential as a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agent.},
keywords = {Antimicrobial activity, Antioxidant activity, Chemical constituents, Essential oils, Hydrodistillation, Microdesmis puberula},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Microdesmis puberula (PROTA) is widely utilised in traditional medicine across West and Central Africa for treating infections, inflammatory conditions, and reproductive disorders. This study presents the first comparative chemical and bioactivity analysis of essential oils derived from the leaves and twigs of this plant. Essential oils were extracted via hydrodistillation and characterised using GC-MS. Antimicrobial properties were assessed against six bacterial and four fungal strains using agar diffusion assays, while antioxidant activity was evaluated through DPPH free radical scavenging. The leaf and twig oils yielded 0.16% and 0.18% (w/w), respectively, and comprised 21 and 11 identified compounds, respectively. Leaf oil was dominated by non-terpenoids (43.27%), with (3E,7E)-4,8,12-trimethyltridec-1,3,7,11-tetraene as the major constituent, whereas twig oil contained high levels of fatty acids, predominantly palmitic acid (44.72%). Both oils exhibited moderate, concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity, with the twig oil showing notable inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18±0.003 - 10±0.000 mm) and Salmonella typhi (18±0.003 - 10±0.002 mm). Antioxidant evaluation revealed moderate radical-scavenging capacity, with IC₅₀ values of 1.00 μg/mL (leaf) and 1.35 μg/mL (twig). The bioactivity of the oils may be attributed to synergistic interactions among major and minor constituents. These findings support the ethnopharmacological relevance of M. puberula and highlight its potential as a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agent.