Study on Extraction and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oil from Liquidambar formosana Hance (L.) leaves by Continuous Flow Microreactor

As a natural medication and food plant resource, Liquidambar formosana Hance (L.) leaves are growing popularity in the fields of medicine and health care. The essential oil of L. leaves was extracted by continuous flow microreactor, and the extraction rate is 53.2%. 26 compounds from essential oil were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main components of these compounds are α-pinene, β-pinene and limonene. Ten of them are reported for the first time. The antibacterial activity of essential oil was investigated by the inhibition zone method, minimum inhibitory concentration and inhibition growth curve experiment. The results show that the essential oil had inhibitory effects on both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus subtilis (B.subtilis), and the minimum inhibitory concentrations are 1.0 μg/mL and 1.2 μg/mL. The inhibition effect on gram-negative bacteria E.coli is stronger. The results of this study show that the essential oil contains rich medicinal value components and have great potential for exploitation. This research provided a scientific foundation for understanding essential oil while also providing a theoretical foundation for their full and rational utilization. Simultaneously, research into the antibacterial properties of essential oil provides a scientific basis for the further development of the anti-bacterial agents that exists in plants.