This study was performed to identify safe natural food preservatives from medicinal herbs and to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of medicinal plants against microorganisms. Medicinal herbs were extracted 3 times with methanol at 45 o C for 3 h and fractionated with n-hexane. The antimicrobial effects of the fractions were determined by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone by using an agar-well diffusion assay. The MIC of fractions for the inhibition of microorganisms was determined using a microplate reader. The antimicrobial effects of fractions were greater against gram positive bacteria than against gram negative bacteria, but the difference was not significant. The antimicrobial effects of fractions were concentration dependent. While these results have implications, the underlying mechanisms of microbial inactivation need to be further elucidated. The results showed the possibility of developing safer food preservatives.
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