Abstract

• Cinnamomum tamala F. Nees. (Karaway) is a small tree within the Laurace ae family. The qualitative phytochemical screening of Karaway leaves was performed by using standard methods. Karaway leaves contained alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, phenolic compounds, sapponins, tannins, glycosides and carbohydrates but showed the absence of steroids and reducing sugars. The mineral elements of Karaway leaves were analyzed by using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Spectrometer. Thirteen minerals were found in Karaway leaves. Antimicrobial activities of various crude extracts of karaway leaves were tested by agar well diffusion method on six selected organisms, such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus pumilus, Candida albicans and E. coli. All of the crude extracts showed low activities on all tested organisms except methanol crude extract. And the essential oil of Karaway leaves was extracted by steam distillation method. The yield percent of essential oil was found to be 1.07 %. Antimicrobial activities of essential oil were also tested by agar well diffusion method on the six selected organisms. The essential oil of Karaway leaves responded high activities on five tested organisms but showed medium activities on Bacillus pumilus. The chemical constituents of essential oil were determined by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry, GC-MS. In total, twenty components (99.99 % of essential oil) were identified with different area ratios. Linalool was the main component, the highest area ratio (35.04 %). The components of significant occurrence in the oil were trans-cinnamaldehyde (28.88 %), benzaldehyde (10.76 %), cinnamyl acetate (7.81%), D-limonene (3.70 %), eucalyptol (2.81 %), hydrocinnamaldehyde (1.36 %), 2-methylcumarone and geraniol (1.11 %) and estragole (1.08 %).