Abstract

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE LIPOID EXTRACT FROM PORTULACA OLERACEA (L.) PLANT, FAMILY PORTULACACEAE

Mohamed S. Hifnawy*, Rabab Mohammed and Maha Montaser

ABSTRACT

The present study is aimed to identify the chemical composition of Portulaca oleracea lipoidal matter using GC/MS analysis and evaluation of its anti-microbial activity by measuring the zone of inhibition. 57 compounds were identified using GC/MS analysis, 40 of them were identified from unsaponifiable matter in which Stigmasterol and Cholesterol represent the identified sterols in the sample under investigation and there are about 1.2% of the total identified components and the percentage of hydrocarbons are higher than sterols. On the other hand the others were identified from saponifiable matter in which unsaturated fatty acids were the major components represented 91.97%, where 11-Octadecenoic acid, methyl ester was the major constituent represents 43.90%, the highest relative percentage of the identified unsaturated fatty acids. Antimicrobial testing showed that lipid extract had significant anti-microbial activity when compared to standard antimicrobial. It could be concluded that Portulaca oleracea lipid content is consisted mainly of unsaturated fatty acids and sterols, and is having a significant antimicrobial activity against most of the tested microrganisms.

Keywords: Portlaca oleracea; lipoidal; anti-microbial activity; GC/MS; Stigmasterol; 11-Octadecenoic acid, methyl ester.