Terpenoid constituents, insecticidal and antimicrobial activities of Xylopia aethiopica fruits found in Ondo State, Nigeria.

Chemical composition of the essential oil obtained by hydro-distillation from the fruits of Xylopia aethiopica growing in Ondo State, Nigeria was analyzed by GC/MS. Toxicity using antifeedant and filter paper methods of the essential oils against Callosobrchus maculatus was carried out. The essential oil (EO) was also tested against ten pathogens among which are six bacterial (Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi , Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella Pneumonia and Streptococcus pneumonia) and four fungal (Aspergillus niger, Aspergilus flavus , Candida tropicalis and Fusarium solani ). Twenty-three components were identified representing 94% of the total oil composition with β-pinene (31.41%), α-pinene (21.7%), 1,8-cineole (8.69%), Δ-3- carene (7.17%) and α-phellandrene (5.0%) as major components. Toxicity was found to be100% in anifeedant method and ranged between 80 and 100% in filter paper methods after 6 and 24 hours of application. The results of the zone of inhibition obtained showed that X. aethiopica EO inhibited the growth of all the pathogens in order of S. paratyphi (1.86 mm) > S. aureus (1.73 mm) > S. pneumonia (1.53 mm) > K. pneumonia (1.40 mm) > B. subtillis (1.23 mm) > E. coli (0.46 mm), respectively for bacterial pathogens and F. solani (1.93 mm) > A. niger (1.66 mm) > A. flavus (1.60 mm) > C. tropicalis (0.86 mm) for fungal pathogens. Keywords: Xylopia aethiopica, essential oil, Callosobrchus maculatus hydrodistilation, toxicity, pathogens