Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the rhizome and leaf oils of Amomum hypoleucum thwaites

Essential oils from the rhizomes and leaves of Amomum hypoleucum were hydrodistilled and characterized by GC/FID and GUMS. Nineteen constituents comprising 93.0% were identified from the rhizome oil. Cryptone (15.4%), beta-pinene (11.9%) and caryophyllene oxide (7.6%) were the major constituents in the rhizome oil. Fifty-two constituents comprising 97.6% were identified from the leaf oil. (E)-Nerolidol (26.5%), alpha-fenchyl acetate (15.0%) and P-caryophyllene (8.4%) were the major constituents in the leaf oil. These oils showed good antibacterial activity against the Gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli.