Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal

Background and Objectives: From centuries ago, Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) has been known as a medicinal plant. VAC is a native phytoestrogen plant in Middle East and south Europe with has a clinical usage in many countries. In this research, antimicrobial effect of essential oil of VAC was investigated on Staphyloccocus aureus , Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and was compared with Ampicilin, Gentamicin and Nystatin. Methods: Essential oil of VAC was extracted by hydrodistillation technique using Clevenger apparatus. Chemical constituents was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for evaluation of antimicrobial effect Disk diffusion and Macrodilution methods were used. Results: Essentical oil of VAC inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans at ­Concentrations 56.25µg/ml and 112.5µg/ml respectively. The zones of inhibition for Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans by Disk diffusion method were 9.3mm and 10.3mm respectively. This essential oil inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli at concentration 450µg/ml, but by using Disk diffusion method, no zone of inhibition has been seen for these two bacteries, by GC/MS analysis of essential oil identified 36 compounds, the major constituents were Isoterpinolene (19.4 ٪ ), Caryophylene (18.53 ٪ ), -Pinene (14.1 ٪ ). Conclusion: According to the results of this research, the essential oil of VAC has antimicrobial effect, in comparison with antibacterial effect of Ampicilin and Gentamicin has significant difference (p<0.001). Antifungal effect of this essential oil in comparsion with Nystatin doesn’t have significant difference (p>0.05).