Biological Activities of Essential Oil from Xanthium strumarium L.

What is it about?

The chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) from fresh cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) leaves was investigated by GC-MS. The antimicrobial activity of the EO was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Scolicidal activity was assayed against Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices.

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Why is it important?

The most important chemical constituents of X. strumarium include phenolic compounds as thiazolidinediones, chlorogenic acids, ferulic acids, 1,3,5-tri-O-caffeoyl quinic acid, 1,5-di-Ocaffeoyl quinic acid, caffeic acid, as well as isoprenoids such as strumasterol, β-sitosterol, monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, triterpenoid saponins and xanthanolide sesquiterpene lactones. Based on these premises, the main aim of the this study was to carry out in vitro assays to estimate the antimicrobial and scolicidal activities of essential oil extracted from leaves of X. strumarium grown in Iran.