ANTIBACTERIAL ACTION OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS OF SOME AUSTRALIAN MYRTACEAE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCES TO THE ACTIVITY OF CHROMATOGRAPHIC FRACTIONS OF OIL OF EUCALYPTUS CITRIODORA

Abstract

The essential oils of Melaleuca alternifolia, M. bracteata, Eucalyptus citriodora, E. dives, E. fruiticetorum, E. australiana and Leptospermum petersonii are evaluated in vitro for antimicrobial action. One oil, from E. citriodora, was shown by gas liquid chromatography to consist of citronellal, citronellol and cineole in the ratio of 90 : 7.5 : 2.5. Similar synthetic mixtures were prepared and their antimicrobial activity assessed. It was shown that the oil of Eucalyptus citriodora exerted'its antimicrobial activity through the synergistic action of citronellal and citronellol.