Extraction and characterization of essential oil from pine needles for potential antimicrobial applications

Staphylococcus aureus is the causative agent for numerous human infections, including superficial skin infections, and more serious deep abscesses. Essential oils or fractions of oils from pine needles were proposed as a topical antimicrobial agent against serious strains of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Pine needle oil was extracted from Loblolly pine needles (Pinus taeda L.) by water distillation using a Clevenger apparatus. By GC/MS analysis, it was determined that the major oils were α pinene (0.3-2.0 mg/g), β pinene (0.1-1.78 mg/g), limonene (0.01-2.1 mg/g) and terpineol (0.01-2.1 mg/g). Essential oils from pine are reported to have antimicrobial effects against pathogenic bacteria, including S. aureus. The extracted oils from this research are being analyzed for antimicrobial activity using disc diffusion and other analytical assays.