Free radical scavenging, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal capacity of extracts from the leaves of 'Eremophila longifolia' (F. Muell) (Myoporaceae): an indigenous Australian medicinal plant with high geographic chemovariability

Abstract

Hydrodistilled essential oils, as well as total solvent and aqueous extracts from leaves of the Australian Aboriginal medicinal plant 'Eremophila longifolia' (Emu Bush) collected at various sites in western New South Wales, Australia were chemically characterised using GC/MS and TLC. Extracts were then assayed for their antimicrobial and antifungal capacities and assessed for free radical scavenging and antioxidant capacities. Antimicrobial/antifungal capacities were investigated using disc diffusion, broth dilution and TLC bioautography to identify separated individual active components. ... Further investigations, such as DNA fingerprinting, anti-inflammatory activity and cultivar chemotype requirements are in progress.