Gas Chromatographic and Mass Spectroscopic (GC-MS) Analysis of Rhizome of <i>Acorus Calamus</i> Linn. for Identification of Potent Antimicrobial Bio-active Compounds

Abstract

Acorus calamus Linn. has wide applications as a herbal medicine since its roots, leaves and rhizome exhibit antimicrobial and insecticidal activities. The objective of this study was to identify some compounds in Acorus calamus Linn., which may be responsible for its antimicrobial activity. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis, for investigation of the compounds present, of the petroleum ether extract of Acorus calamus Linn. rhizome suggested presence of five compounds (which showed close match with those of the GC-MS database main library of Novocatalyz) viz., spiro [2,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-2-oxo-4,4,7a-trimethylbenzofuran]-7,2' -(oxirane); 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, phenylmethyl ester; shyobunone; asarone [syn. α-asarone]; benzene, 1,2,3-trimethoxy-5-(2-propenyl)-. α-asarone and benzene, 1,2,3-trimethoxy-5-(2-propenyl)- have been reported to be sensitive against plant pathogen and may be responsible for its anti-fungal activity. As per the compound contents of this plant, studies suggest that Acorus calamus Linn. could be a potential herbal medicine against certain microbial diseases.