RESEARCH JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND TECHNOLOGY

Altitude is an important factor, which can affect the growth of a plant, its overall composition and various biological activities. In present study leaves essential oil of Murraya koenigii collected from different regions of north Himalaya were isolated and tested for its antifeedant and antimicrobial properties. Chemical composition of Murraya koenigii essential oil was identified by means of GC-MS. The maximum composition was seen in region of highest altitude (Mandi, HP) and minimum was found in lowest altitudinal region (Delhi). In all the three cases 150 components were identified. Major component found in essential oil from Dehradun and Delhi region was sabinene while a-pinene was the major component of from Mandi (HP) sample. Maximum Antifeedant activity was shown by essential oil isolated from Mandi (HP) region of highest altitude whereas minimum was shown by essential oil isolated from Delhi. For antimicrobial activity essential was found to be more effective against Gram-positive bacteria then Gram negative bacteria. S. aureus was the most sensitive bacterial strain and showed maximum antimicrobial activity in oil of highest altitude (HP region) whereas it is least in Delhi sample. Thus the comparative study of composition of oils from three different regions showed almost similar overall compositions but significant differences in relative yield of components. Significant antifeedant and antimicrobial activities were shown with slight variations, by essential oils isolated from regions with altitudinal differences.