Volatile components of the aerial parts of Prunella vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae)

Abstract

Prunella vulgaris (“heal-all”) is found throughout the northern hemisphere and has been used as a traditional medicine in many cultures. In this work, the aerial parts of P. vulgaris, growing wild in north Alabama, were collected and hydro distilled to give the essential oil, which was analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. The major components in the essential oil were germacrene D (49.7%), β-barbatene (9.0%), hexanal (5.1%), (3Z)-hexenol (4.6%), and cuparene (4.5%). The essential oil of P. vulgaris was screened for antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans, but showed negligible activity (MIC = 625, 1250, and 156 μg/mL, respectively).