Nothoapiole and [alpha] -Asarone Rich Essential Oils from Himalayan Pleurospermum angelicoidesBenth

Pleurospermum angelicoides Benth. , a herb used in folk medicine, was collected from near Milam glacier of Uttarakhand. Different plant parts were investigated for their terpenoid compositions, antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidant potential. Nothoapiole (5-allyl-4,6,7-trimethoxy-benzo[1,3] dioxide 1) was observed as a single major constituent (87.3%) in the root essential oil while α -asarone was the major constituent of leaf and flower essential oils (23.2%, 20.7% respectively). Monoterpenes viz. limonene, α-pinene, γ-terpinene and perilla aldehyde were other constituents of leaf and flower oils. All the essential oils exhibited broad range of antioxidant potential. The leaf essential oil showed significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata.