Antibacterial and Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibition Activities of Essential Oil from Java Cardamom (Amomum compactum) Fruit

The essential oil has been reported to be one of the Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor resources. Moreover, it has been proven against bacterial pathogens that cause infectious diseases. Amomum compactum is one source of essential oil, known as Javanese cardamom is a spice herb commonly used for flavouring food and traditional medicine in Indonesia. However, ACE inhibition activity of A. compactum has not been reported. The purposes of this study were to identify the main constituent of volatile compounds, inhibition activity toward bacteria, and antihypertension potency of A. compactum essential oils. Volatile compounds were investigated using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). The antimicrobial activity was observed using the microdilution method toward Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli , and Staphylococcus aureus . The antihypertension effect was studied using an ACE inhibition assay. The result showed that eucalyptol was a primary compound of A. compactum fruit either in Banjar (BJR) and Bogor (BGR) essential oils with the value of 62.22% and 66.23%, respectively. Both BJR and BGR are more active to inhibit gram-positive bacteria ( B. subtilis ) with MIC values of 1 mg/mL. Meanwhile, the BJR exhibited a higher inhibitory activity effect toward ACE compared to BGR with the value of IC 50 64.86 ± 0.57 μg/mL. These findings suggest that A. compactum essential oil can be the potential to lead to the treatment of hypertension as an ACE inhibitor and antibacterial agent.