Composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oils of Stachys candida and S. chrysantha from southern Greece.

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Stachys candida and S. chrysantha were analysed with GC and GC/MS. Forty-two constituents were identified from the two oils and alpha-cadinol, manoyl oxide, caryophyllene oxide, epi-alpha-muurolol and (E)-caryophyllene were found to be the major components. Furthermore, the oils were tested against six Gram (+/-) bacteria and it was found that one of them exhibited significant antibacterial activity.