Resumen

Introduction Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is an evergreen shrub belonging to the family of Myrtaceae, which grows spontaneously throughout the Mediterranean area. In Italy it grows along the coasts and on the internal hills, and it is abundant especially in the islands, where it is one of the most characteristic species. The essential oil obtained from its leaves and sometimes from its flowers and berries has been used for its tonic and medicinal properties, and it is used in the flavour and fragrance industries. Essential oils are gaining remarkable interest for their potential multi-purpose use as antioxidant, antibacterial and antiseptic agents. Myrtle berries and leaves are mostly employed for the industrial formulation of sweet liquors with digestive properties; however, the essential oil obtained from myrtle leaves has been used in the treatment of lung disorders, and Myrtus communis has a history in popular and traditional medicine. Myrtus communis has exhibited the biological activities of tannins including anticancer and antioxidant activities. In previous studies, we obtained encouraging results when we evaluated the antimicrobial properties of myrtle essential oil against several clinical strains, in particular against Helicobacter pylori and Mycobacteria.

Palabras clave: Myrtus communis; Candida spp.; essential oil.

2013-03-15   |   611 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 7 Núm.3. Marzo 2013 Pags. 295-298 J Infect Developing Countries 2013; 7(3)