Research Article
Christianah Abimbola Elusiy
Abstract
Essential oil of fresh leaves of Plectranthus aegyptiacus (Forssk.) C. Chr. collected in Nigeria was analyzed to determine its chemotype. A total of 30 compounds were identified. Constituents identified were mainly mono and sesquiterpenoids with the major components, accounting for about 76% of the components, being α-terpinene (6.9%), p-cymene (14.2%), γ-terpinene (5.5%), carvacrol (10.0%), α-copaene (5.3%), α-caryophyllene (5.8%), germacrene-D (11.6%), δ-cadinene (8.4%) and α-cadinol (8.4%). The essential oil showed anticholinesterase inhibitory activity with an IC50 of 8.29 ± 0.67 mg/ml.