## 3 Discussion
odoratissimum_, suggesting the type of solvent could affect the volatile emission from the extracts. This could be due to the high concentration of ethanol (95%) in the extraction solvent; as stated by [PERSON] et al. [25], high ethanol concentration leads to protein denaturation, preventing the dissolution of polyphenols leading to lowered extraction rate. In addition, acetone can dissolve both polar and nonpolar substances while ethanol amongst other solvents can only dissolve one or the other. The findings from this study are consistent with the results of [PERSON] et al. [33]. The authors reported a relatively high abundance of sesquiterpenoids and sesquiterpenes for the crude methanolic extracts of _H. odoratissimum_ obtained from Kwazulu Natal. An earlier report by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [18] also reported similar results in a Zimbabwean _H. odoratissimum_ with sesquiterpenoids (>22.6%) as major components. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. [34] reported the sesquiterpenoids (\(\beta\)-caryophyllene, 30.7% and 12.6%) as a major component of both _H. raussii_ and _H. rugulosum_, respectively. It is noteworthy that the phytochemistry reported for crude plant extract of _H. odorutissimum_ and _H. patulum_ in this study differs in the relative abundance of major and minor chemical classes from those reported in the literature for EOs. For instance, [PERSON] et al. [35], identified \(\alpha\)- and \(\beta\)-pinene (27.6% and 44.9%, respectively) as the major compounds in the EOs of _H. patulum_. It is, however, noteworthy that factors such as extraction solvent, plant parts, extraction method, sample type (crude extracts or EOs), geographical location, and species used play a crucial role on the extract yield and chemical constituents [1]. The antimicrobial inhibitory effects of _Helichrysum_ spp. have been reported by previous studies [36]. The current study also confirmed marked growth inhibitory effects of both _H. odoratissimum_ and _H. patulum_. Generally, _H. patulum_ poses higher antifungal effects in comparison with _H. odoratissimum_. The findings of the current study were in support of the previous study by [PERSON] et al. [5]. The authors showed that _H. patulum_ displayed antimicrobial activity against _Staphylococcus aureus_ in the disc diffusion assay that was comparable to that of the positive control: ciprofloxacin. Phytochemical studies conducted in _H. patulum_ extracts or Eos evidenced the presence of different compounds with high microbial activities. According to [PERSON] et al. [35], sesquiterpenes are evident antimicrobials. The authors further noted that compounds such as the epoxide: caryophyllene oxide, sesquiterpenoid: _viridiflorl_ for high antimicrobial activity thus could lead to the observation of the current study, as a high presence of the latter compounds were detected in all extracts tested. [PERSON] et at. [36] evaluated five cadinene derivatives (cadinan-3-ene-2,7-dione, 7-hydroxycadinan-3-ene-2-one, 5,6-dihydroxycadinan-3-ene-2,7-dione, cadinan-3,6-diene-2,7-dione, and 2-acetyl-cadinan-3,6-diene-7-one) fractionated from ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of _Eupatorium adenophorum_. The authors revealed that all compounds exhibit a high but selective antifungal activity. A previous study by [PERSON] et al. [37] identified \(\delta\)-cadinene as a major compound in the methanol extracts of _Xenophyllum poposum_. The authors associated the high antifungal activity of the extracts with the presence of the later compound. As aforementioned, even though not in high concentration, \(\beta\)-selinene and \(\gamma\)-_gurjunene_ were only identified in _H. patulum_ extracts. High antimicrobial activity of these sesquiterpenes has been reported by [PERSON] et al. [38]. The authors further noted a direct correlation between the total polyphenol content of the extracts and antimicrobial activity.