Chemical and biological studies of the essential oils of Micromelum hirsutum

Essential oils of the branches and leaves, flowers, and fruits of Micromelum hirsutum (Rutaceae) collected in Vietnam were investigated. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistn. and analyzed by GC and GC/MS techniques. Essential oils yields were 0.07%, 0.125%, and 0.22% (wt./wt.), resp., and in each oil 43, 49, and 37 components were identified, comprising 86.0, 86.3, and 96.4% of the total amt., resp. All the essential oils were screened for antimicrobial activity, showing pos. results against various strains of bacteria and fungi. The essential oil of the flowers was also found to have cytotoxic effect against three cancer lines by in vitro assay.