In vitro antimicrobial activity of Allium ampeloprasum L. var. atroviolaceum Regel.

Some aromatic plants such as Allium are used for medical purposes. In the essential oil of aromatic plants, there are many compounds such as monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, phenols, esters, and ether, sulphurous and nitrogenous substances. In this study, the essential oil of the aerial part of Allium ampeloprasum l. var, atroviolaceum was examined by GC and GC-MS. 22 compounds have been identified in the essential oil of A. ampeloprasum. The major constituents were: d-limonene (26.977 %), Beta-pinene (25.309 %), Trans-caryophylene (7.390 %), Elemene (0.835 %), Caryophylene oxide (1.205 %), Dimethyl trisulfid (2.432 %), Dimethyl tetrasulphide (0.729 %), Alpha-pinene (0.524 %), Gamma terpinene (0.449 %), Alpha-terpineol (0.241 %), Beta-myrcene (0.35 %), Farnesene (0.304 %), Camphene (0.037 %), Ethanone 1-(4-methylphenyl)(0.219%),2,5-diethylphenol(0.416%),4-methyl-betamethylenebenzeneethanthiol(0.099%),), Cymene(0.151%). The ethyl acetate extract showed greatest antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia (250 µgr/ml ) and Shigella flexenry (250 µgr/ml). In conclusion, we suggest antimicrobial activity of Allium ampeloprasum L. var atroviolaceum may be due to its pinene and phenol contents. Also the analysis of chloroformic extract indicates glycerol (98.11%) by GC and GC-MS.