Phytochemical Constituents and Antimicrobial and Grain Protectant Activities of Clove Basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.) Grown in Nigeria

Abstract

Ocimum gratissimum Linn (Lamiaceae) is an herbaceous plant reputed for many medicinal and agronomic practices amongst Nigerian peasant farmers. O. gratissimum was investigated for antimicrobial activity against ten micro-organisms and for grain protectant activity against Callosobrochus maculatus. The phytocontituents of the aerial part of O. gratissimum were extracted with 95% ethanol using the percolation method. The crude ethanol extracted was further fractionated into hexane, chloroform and methanol fractions. The fractions obtained were screened for phytoconstiteunts, antimicrobial and grain protectant properties. Result showed that hexane fraction exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against Vibrio cholera and Klebsiella pneumonia. Similarly hexane fraction also showed the highest grain protectant activity. The other extracts of the O. gratissimum did not significantly inhibit both bacterial growth and grain infestation. However, the methanol fraction contains phytocompounds such as phenolic compounds associated with antioxidant properties. The study shows that O. gratissimum extractants are potential sources of antimicrobial and preservative agents.

An Evaluation of the Antioxidant Status and Antimicrobial Activity of the Methanol Extract of Ocimum Gratissimum

“…But the results are in confirmation with all other studies that show sensitivity of methanol extract to microorganisms (Ogunniran, K. O. (2009), Mann, A. (2012).…”

Effect of Hexane and Ethanol Extracts of Ten Basil Genotypes on the Growth of Selected Bacterial Strains

“…All tested basil genotypes showed different antibacterial potential due to high degree of variation in the chemical composition of basil extracts. Goyal andKaushik (2011) andMann (2012), reported results against similar pathogenic bacterial strains following treatment of extracts of different plants. This indicated that plant extracts contain essential compounds that retard or inhibit bacterial growth, breakage of cell membrane and make it permeable causing leakage of ions and molecules (Kamba and Hassan, 2010).…”

Effects of <i>Ocimum Gratissimum</i> Leaves on Common Dermatophytes and Causative Agent of <i>Pityriasis Versicolor</i> in Rivers State, Nigeria

“…These established a good support to the use of this plant in herbal medicine and as base for the development of new drugs and phytomedicine [21]. The study by Mann [7] showed that O. gratissimum extractants are potential sources of antimicrobial and preservative agents. In a study by Nweze and Eze [3], the extract of O. gratissimum showed good but varying in vitro activities against all the isolates tested including typed fungal strain of Candida albicans and Causative Agent of Pityriasis Versicolor in Rivers State, Nigeria (ATCC 90028).…”

“…It is commonly known as Scent leaf or Clove basil and is found in many tropical countries. Africa and Asia are however, the two continents where most variants of the plant exists [3,[6][7]. O. gratissimum is found in the tropical and warm temperature regions such as India and Nigeria [8][9].…”