Chemical and biological investigations of Syzygium aromaticum L. essential oil from Benin

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from seeds of Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae) growing in Benin was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twenty-one components, which represented 99.4% of the total constituents of the oil were identified. The essential oil is rich in hydrocarbons monoterpenic. The major constituents found were eugenol (60.4%), trans -β-caryophyllene (24.0%). The oil extract revealed an important antiradical activity and a high antimicrobial activity. Keywords : Antimicrobial activity, antiradical activity, essential oil, eugenol, trans-β-caryophyllene, Syzygium aromaticum