Antibacterial properties of essential oils and methanol extracts of sweet basilOcimum basilicumoccurring in Bangladesh

Abstract

The antibacterial potential of essential oils and methanol extracts of sweet basil Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) was evaluated for controlling the growth range of food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Essential oils extracted by hydrodistillation from the leaves and stems were analyzed by GC-MS. Fifty-seven compounds representing 94.9 and 96.1% of the total leaf and stem oils, respectively, were identified, of which methyl chavicol (36.7 and 29.9%), gitoxigenin (9.3 and 10.2%), trimethoquinol (10.3 and 8.4%), beta-guaiene (3.7 and 4.1%), aciphyllene (3.4 and 3.0%), alizarin (3.2 and 4.4%), naphthaline (2.2 and 3.8%), (-)-caryophyllene (2.0 and 1.9%), and mequinol (1.6 and 1.8%) were the major compounds. The essential oils (10 microL/disc of 1:5, v/v dilution with methanol) and methanol extracts (300 microg/disc) of O. basilicum displayed a great potential of antibacterial activity against Bacillius cereus, B. subtilis, B. megaterium, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Shigella boydii, S. dysenteriae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. mimicus, and Salmonella typhi with their respective zones of inhibition of 11.2-21.1 mm and MIC values of 62.5-500 microg/mL. The results of this study suggest that the natural products derived from O. basilicum may have potential use in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries as antimicrobial agents.

Isolation and characterization of antimicrobial compound from the stem-bark of the traditionally used medicinal plant Adenium obesum

“…In addition, it was evident that among the employed bacteria, Gram negative bacterial strains showed the highest sensitivity to all crude extracts at all concentrations. Our results are fully in line with earlier results presented 20, 21, 22. Rosmarinic acid has previously been shown to possess significant antimicrobial activity against different strains of Gram (+ and −) bacterial 11, 12…”

“…However, methanol, water, butanol and ethyl acetate crude extracts did not show any activity against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and P. vulgaris at any concentration. This might reflect the diversity of secondary metabolites and the compromise of their bioactivity by the polarity of extraction solvents 20, 21, 22. In addition, it was evident that among the employed bacteria, Gram negative bacterial strains showed the highest sensitivity to all crude extracts at all concentrations.…”

Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Ocimum Gratissimum L.

“…The increasing ineffectiveness in the antibiotic activities used for controlling plant and animal pathogen [2][3][4] has become a big challenge among researchers, clinicians and policymakers. Antimicrobial synthetic products used in food industries are even not safer as for the human health is concerned, leading to chemical toxicity [5]. Although the new science of molecular-microbial interaction helps in understanding and resolving the antibiotic-resistant complex mechanism, but the more success lies in discovery of new medicines to control infections in this twenty-first century resistance era [1] and also to provide valuable information on medicinal plant, their parts used and methods of preparation for treating various diseases [6].…”

“…Although the new science of molecular-microbial interaction helps in understanding and resolving the antibiotic-resistant complex mechanism, but the more success lies in discovery of new medicines to control infections in this twenty-first century resistance era [1] and also to provide valuable information on medicinal plant, their parts used and methods of preparation for treating various diseases [6]. Altogether these and many more allied issues have drawn curiosity in searching for a new drug formulation [7,8] that are safer as food preservative [5] and can control diseases and food contamination caused by microbial activities.…”

Investigation of Isotopic Abundance Ratio of Biofield Treated Phenol Derivatives Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

“…The bactericidal actions of substituted phenols and the normal alkyl derivatives of p-chlorophenols were examined against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria [10,11]. The antibacterial potential of essential oils of sweet basil Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) containing 1.8% 4-MP and methanol extracts was evaluated for controlling the growth range of food-borne pathogenic bacteria [12]. It was reported that BHT at high levels as well as at lower levels found in foods might have anti-cancer properties, possibly by damaging free radicals or by stimulating the production of enzymes that detoxify carcinogens.…”