Antimicrobial Activity and Components of Extracts from Agastache rugosa during Growth Period

Antimicrobial activities of volatile flavor, water and methanol extracts from Agastache rugosa were investigated. The volatile flavor extract was obtained from A. rugosa by simulataneous distillation-extraction (SDE) method. Antimicrobial activity was investigated by disc diffusion method against several microorganisms, four species of Gram positive, three species of Gram negative and tow species of yeast. The volatile flavor extracts had strong antimicrobial activity againstc. utilisand S. cerevisiae. During the growth period, a difference in antimicrobial activity among volatile flavor extracts from A. rugosa was not shown. The water extract of above 10 mg/disc showed antimicrobial activity. Methanol extracts from A. rugosa harvested in June showed antimicrobial activity against tested Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, showed weak antimicrobial activity against the bacteria from those harvested in July and August. In particular, antimicrobial activity against V. parahaemolyticus was stronger than that against other bacteria. Water and methanol extracts did not inhibit yeast. C. utilis and S. cerevisiae. To further elucidate the effective components, volatile flavor extracts was analyzed by GC/MS. harvested in June, the components included 8 phenols (93.031%), 18 terpenes (5.230%), 12 alcohols (1.300%) 8 alkanes (0.181%), 1 ester (0.056%), 2 ketones (0.033%), 2 aldehydes (0.011%) and 1 pyrrole (0.007%). In July, the components included 6 phenols (94.366%), 19 terpenes (3.394%), 11 alcohols (2.045%), 1 ester (0.039%), 2 ketones (0.028%), 1 furan (0.005%) and 1 aldehyde (0.005%). And in August, the components included 7 phenols (95.270%), 19 terpenes (2.951%), 13 alcohols (1.399%), 1 ester (0.063%), 2 aldehydes (0.016%), 2 ketones (0.011%), 1 alkane (0.006%), 1 acid (0.005%) and 1 pyrrole (0.005%). The major component of volatile flavors was estragole, a phenolic compound.