Abstract Detail

Ecophysiology

Manwill, Preston [1], Hildebrand, Terri [2], Weaver, Jared [3], Heyborne, Nathan [3], Weaver, Kim [4].

Antimicrobial Properties and Composition of Essentials Oils Isolated from Ericameria linearifolia (Asteraceae).

Essential oils represent secondary metabolites produced by plants and typically give them their characteristic aromas. These often consist of a mixture of various terpenoids and other organic molecules. For many plants, particularly those of agricultural or economic interest, extracted oils have been examined for their ability to inhibit growth of a variety of microbes, including human and plant pathogenic bacteria. In contrast, many plants found in native habitats seldom have had their essential oil properties examined, yet these plants are expected to have evolved unique terpenoid mixtures due to strong selective pressures on metabolic pathways that have developed in natural ecosystems. The objectives of our study were to 1) isolate and characterize secondary metabolites extracted from Ericameria linearifolia (Mojave goldenbush), a shrub native to the Intermountain West chaparral community, 2) determine if the metabolites exhibit antimicrobial activity against environmental bacteria isolated from soil samples, and 3) interpret results in light of mass spectrometry analysis of the oil’s components. We hypothesized oils extracted from E. linearifolia would act as a greater growth inhibitor against native soil bacteria with which the plant has evolved than against bacteria from non-associated soils. Extracts were obtained using steam distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Our pilot studies suggested E. linearifolia did indeed exhibit antimicrobial activity when the Kirby-Bauer disc method was used. More complete testing against a broader diversity of bacteria morphotypes is underway and these results will be presented. Future studies will use molecular methods to identify the specific soil bacteria species isolated as well as test E. linearifolia secondary metabolites against human pathogenic bacteria.

Broader Impacts:

1 - 655 S 300 W Apt. B16, Cedar City, UT, 84720, USA
2 - Southern Utah University, 351 W University Boulevard, Center For Health & Molecular Sciences 213, Cedar City, UT, 84720, USA
3 - Southern Utah University, 351 W University Boulevard, Cedar City, UT, 84720, United States
4 - Southern Utah University, 351 W University Boulevard, Science Center 216, Cedar City, UT, 84720, United States

Keywords:
ecophysiology
secondary metabolites
terpenes.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Grand Salon A - D/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PEP013
Abstract ID:356
Candidate for Awards:Physiological Section Best poster presentation,Physiological Section Physiological Section Li-COR Prize