Antibacterial activity of Ocimum gratissimum L. essential oil

Abstract

The essential oil (EO)

Biological activities of essential oils and methanol extracts of five Ocimum species against pathogenic bacteria

“…This claim is further supported by our findings indicating high contents of terpenoids such as citral, geraniol, eugenol, and camphor in the oils (Table 2). The findings in this study support the observations of some other researchers about Ocimum species containing some substances with antibacterial properties (Prasad et al 1986;Nakamura et al 1999;Adebolu & Oladimeji 2005;Adigüzel et al 2005;Moghaddam et al 2011;. However, it is difficult to compare the data with the literature because several variables influence the results, such as the environmental and climatic conditions of the plant and the choice of the extraction method and antimicrobial test.…”

“…The antibacterial activities of O. basilicum, O. kilimandscharicum, and O. gratissimum leaves extracts essential oils may be due to high contents of tannins and phenolic constituents. The most active constituents (essential oils) rich in phenolic compounds are widely reported to possess high levels of antimicrobial activity (Prasad et al 1986;Nakamura et al 1999;Dorman & Deans 2000), which has been confirmed and extended in the present study, although antimicrobial activities of phenolic compounds may involve multiple modes of action. The mode of action of antimicrobial agents also depends on the type of microorganisms and is mainly related to their cell wall structure and the outer membrane arrangement.…”

“…Recent interest in Ocimum has resulted from its inhibitory activity against HIV-I reverse transcriptase and platelets aggregation induced by collagen and ADP (adenosine 5'-disphosphate) (Okazaki et al 1998;Yamasaki et al 1998). However, the antimicrobial activity of Ocimum essential oil against microorganisms has been investigated by some researchers (Prasad et al 1986;Nakamura et al 1999;Adebolu & Oladimeji 2005;Adigüzel et al 2005;Moghaddam et al 2011; using different techniques and their investigations mostly covered one individual or two species. Unfortunately, the published data on the former subject are difficult to compare, because the chemical composition of essential oils is known to vary with the local climate, harvest period, and environmental conditions (Vieira & Simon 2000), and is also dependent on the type of solvent used in the extraction procedure (Cu et al 1989).…”

Antifungal activity from Ocimum gratissimum L. towards Cryptococcus neoformans

“…Caryocar brasiliensis, plant widely distributed in Brazil, has in vitro activity against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and C. neoformans while Hyptis ovalifolia, plant native from Brazilian cerrado, has inhibitory effect on dermatophytes (Souza et al 2002). We are interested on antifungal activity of Ocimum gratissimum, plant known as alfavaca cravo, which has presented in vitro inhibitory effect against bacteria as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and some fungi as dermatophytes (Lima et al 1993, Nakamura et al 1999.…”

“…Caryocar brasiliensis, plant widely distributed in Brazil, has in vitro activity against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and C. neoformans while Hyptis ovalifolia, plant native from Brazilian cerrado, has inhibitory effect on dermatophytes (Souza et al 2002). We are interested on antifungal activity of Ocimum gratissimum, plant known as alfavaca cravo, which has presented in vitro inhibitory effect against bacteria as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and some fungi as dermatophytes (Lima et al 1993, Nakamura et al 1999.The occurrence of cryptococcosis in Goiânia and its importance in immunocom-promised patients justify in studying Cryptococcus species in this city localized in the Brazilian midwest region. In this paper the antifungal activity of ethanolic crude extract, ethyl acetate, hexane and chloroformic fractions, essential oils and eugenol from O. gratissimum leaves towards 25 isolates of C. neoformans, important pathogen commonly found in our geographic area , was investigated.…”