Chemical and Antimicrobial Studies of Cupressus sempervirens L. and C. horizentalis Mill. Essential Oils

The essential oils of fresh fruits and terminal branches with adherent leaves ofcupressus sempervirens l. and c. horizentalis mill., growing in iran, were analyzedby gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. the oils were also screened forbacteriostatic and fungistatic activities. thirteen and ten components were identifiedin the essential oils of c. sempervirens and c. horizentalis, respectively. the mainconstituents of both fruits and leaves of c. sempervirens were a-pinene and ؤ-3-carene, while they were ل-pinene and ؤ-2-carene for c. horizentalis. the essentialoil of c. horizentalis leaves showed no antimicrobial activity against, bacillussubtilis, candida albicans, escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus, while theessential oil of its fruits exhibited a weak effect on bacillus subtilis. the essentialoil of c. sempervirens leaves and fruits showed stronger antimicrobial activityagainst tested microorganisms compared to c. horizentalis essential oils. c.sempervirens fruits were relatively rich in tannins, and the leaves and fruits of c.horizentalis were quite rich in saponins and tannins. the amounts of flavonoids andalkaloids were not very high in both parts of these plants.