Triumfetta flavescens (Hochst) is a shrub 0.5–1.2m height, much-branched from the base with yellow flowers,
belonging to the family Tilaceae. It is growing wild in the Egyptian desert east of
the Nile and Sinai [1,2,3]. In this work plant material was collected from shrubs
growing on Gebel Elba region approximately 1200km out of Cairo. The chemical composition
of the essential oil, isolated by hydrodistillation [4] from the leaves, was investigated
by GC and GC-MS [5]. The essential oil of T. flavescens, obtained in 0.2–0.5% w/w on a dry weight basis, consisted approximately of 11.67%
β-eudesmol and 8.82% α-eudesmol. Other oxygenated monoterpene compounds were identified;
the principal members were Trans-caryophyllene 4.78%, caryophyllene oxide 9.12%, hedycaryol
6.81% and chromolaenin 3.91%. Additional oil constituents found in concentrations
above 1% were α-cubebene, 2,4-decadienal, trans-2 nonadecene and sapathulenol.
The antimicrobial activities of the oil were carried out using the inverted Petriplate
method. The volatile oil showed prominent antimicrobial activities against fungi,
Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria at a very low concentration (10µl).
References: 1. Tackholm, V. (1974) Student Flora of Egypt, Second edition. Cairo University.
2. Boulos, L. (1995) Flora of Egypt Checklist. Al Hadara Publishing. Cairo, Egypt.
3. Boulos, L. (2000) Flora of Egypt VII. Al Hadara Publishing. Cairo, Egypt.
4. Guenther, E. (1961) „The Essential Oils“ VIII. Robert E D. Von Nostrand Comp. Inc.
New York.
5. Adams, R.P. (1989) Identification of Essential oils by Ion Trap Mass Spectroscopy.
Academic Press, New York.
