University Publications

Background and Objectives: Pistacia lentiscus L. (Family Anacardiaceae) commonly known as mastic is used in Sudan for treatment of cough and preparation of traditional perfumes. This study carried out to determine the antimicrobial activity and chemical profile of leaf essential oil from P. lentiscus growing in Sudan. Methodology: Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and then analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antibacterial activity was determined against two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria as well as two fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger by disc diffusion method. Results: P. lentiscus dry leaf provided a pleasant essence pale yellow oil with a yield of 2.7%. The oil was dominated by the presence of sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons (32.19%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (30.59%), respectively. The major components were caryophyllene oxide (12.82%) followed by β‐caryophyllene (10%), α-pinene (8.23%), spathulenol (5.28%) and ß-eudesmol (4.92%) respectively. Antibacterial activity of the oil ranged between 17-21 mm where the highest activity was observed against E. coli (21 mm) and Bacillus subtilis (20 mm). The oil showed also good antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans with inhibition zone values of 20 and 21 mm respectively. Conclusion: leaf essential oil from P. lentiscus grown in Sudan exert beneficial antibacterial and antifungal activities.