World Applied Sciences Journal 26 (4): 427-432, 2013 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2013 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2013.26.04.13478 Corresponding Author: Eman E. Aziz, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. 427 Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Salvia langiera Poir Herbs Growing Wild in Egypt Mohamed E. Ibrahim, Salma A. El-Sawi, Eman E. Aziz and Faten M. Ibrahim 1 2 1 1 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, 1 National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt, P.O. Box: 12622 Pharmacognosy Department, 2 National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt, P.O. Box: 12622 Submitted: Oct 17, 2013; Accepted: Nov 16, 2013; Published: Nov 19, 2013 Abstract: Salvia has been used since ancient times in folk medicine and many pharmaceutical industries. Salvia langiera Poir herbs, growing wild in Egyptian desert, are among nine endemic wild species native to Egypt. The essential oil of Wild Egyptian Salvia langiera has not been previously investigated in Egypt. The aim of the present study was to assess the composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Salvia langiera plant growing wild in Egyptian desert. The plant materials were collected from wild population growing in sandy soils near El-Sallum region (41 km eastern of Sallum). The essential oil of the air-dried aerial parts of plant was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The essential oil composition of Salvia langiera was characterized by a high percentage of oxygenated sesquiterpene (26.44%). The major constituents were Spathulenol (5.90%), Carotol (5.36 %) and cis, trans farnesol (5.34%) followed by caryophyllene oxide (3.96%) and Globulol (2.20%). Oxygenated monoterpene (3.65 %) were Camphor (1.28%), -Thujone (1.23%) and Linalool (1.14%). -Pinene (2.17%) and Sabinene (1.12%) were the monoterpene hydrocarbons while sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were -Muurolene (1.68%). Other important constituents n-alkane (6.32 %), aliphatic alcohols (9.73%) and fatty acids (21.97%) were present in considerable amounts. On the other hand the essential oil of Salvia langiera was more active against Saccharomyces cereviseae, intermediate sensitive with Bacillus megaterium, while it was the least against Bacillus subtilis. Key words: Antimicrobial Essential oil Lamiaceae Salvia langiera INTRODUCTION reducing work-related stress, anti-mutagenic, anticancer, The genus Salvia is one of the most important been widely used in coronary heart diseases [5]. aromatic and medicinal genera of the Lamiaceae family, Salvia lanigera belongs to section Salvia. It is a includes about 900 species, widespread throughout perennial plant growing wild in the Mediterranean area [6]. the world [1]. Salvia species richest in the essential oil Salvia langiera Poir, growing wild in Egyptian desert and have powerful biological activity and and Sinai, is among nine endemic wild species native to pharmacological properties. The oil contain more than Egypt [7, 8]. The leaves of S. Lanigera are used as an 100 different bioactive compounds which mainly aromatic tea for a variety of abdominal troubles [9]. include Monoterpene hydrocarbons, Oxygenated Previous reports on the plants have shown the monoterpenes, Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, Diterpenes, presence of four diterpene-quinones of the royleanone not iso-prenoid compounds and Oxygenated type [10]. In addition, three diterpenes, namely sesquiterpenes [2]. Salvia species have commonly been isocarnosol, 12- hydroxyl isocarnosoal and methyl widely used as folk medicine as antimicrobial, antioxidant, carnosoate were isolated from the petroleum ether extract improvement of cognitive performance and mood, of the plant [9]. anti-inflammatory [3, 4]. Some Salvia species have