Antimicrobial Properties of Basil and Its Possible Application in Food Packaging

Abstract

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a popular culinary herb, and its essential oils have been used extensively for many years in food products, perfumery, and dental and oral products. Basil essential oils and their principal constituents were found to exhibit antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, yeast, and mold. The present paper reviews primarily the topic of basil essential oils with regards to their chemical composition, their effect on microorganisms, the test methods for antimicrobial activity determination, and their possible future use in food preservation or as the active (antimicrobial), slow release, component of an active package.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of leaves of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) herb

“…Sweet basil essential oils exhibited good antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microorganisms. 26 O. basilicum essential oil showed moderate antibacterial activity. 27 Whereas, 28,29 described that the Gram-positive strains of bacteria showed higher sensitivity to O. basilicum essential oils than those of their counterpart.…”

Antimicrobial activity of various extracts of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> l. and observation of the inhibition effect on bacterial cells by use of scanning electron microscopy

“…J. Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines www.africanethnomedicines.net becoming more important in antimicrobial packaging as they present a perceived lower risk to consumers (Sappakul et al, 2003).…”

Utilization of Dehydrated Herbs in the Formulation of Value Added Snack "Rice Flakes Mix"

“…As these herbs are easily available, low cost and can be mixed together in any food items without causing any side effects [4]. Herbs not only enhance the taste and flavor of foods, but also increase the shelf life by being antimicrobial and antifungal [5][6][7][8].…”