Fatty Acid Composition of Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Oil and its Antimicrobial Activity

Abstract

Aims:
Aesculus hippocastanum L. (horse chestnut) seed oil is a promising source of bioactive compounds; however, its chemical composition in Uzbekistan remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to determine the fatty acid profile of seed oil and evaluate its antimicrobial activity against selected pathogenic microorganisms.
Methodology and results:
Seeds oil were extracted using hexane and analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method against representative bacterial and fungal strains. The oil yield was 6.5% (w/w). Fatty acid analysis revealed a predominance of unsaturated fatty acids (89.7%), mainly oleic acid (51.46%) and linoleic acid (30.82%), while saturated fatty acids accounted for 10.3%. The oil demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (19.87 ± 0.15 mm), Klebsiella oxytoca (16.80 ± 0.26), Proteus mirabilis (15.00 ± 0.10), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.93 ± 0.35), and Candida albicans (11.50 ± 0.50). No inhibitory effect was observed against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study:
The results indicate that A. hippocastanum seed oil from Uzbekistan is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and exhibits selective antimicrobial activity. These findings highlight its potential application as a natural source of bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and antimicrobial formulations, supporting its further investigation in food and pharmaceutical industries.