The effect of essential oils of basil on the growth of Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas fluorescens

Abstract

Basil essential oils, including basil sweet linalool (BSL) and basil methyl chavicol (BMC), were screened for antimicrobial activity against a range of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, yeasts and moulds using an agar well diffusion method. Both essential oils showed antimicrobial activity against most of the micro‐organisms examined except Clostridium sporogenes, Flavimonas oryzihabitans, and three species of Pseudomonas. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of BMC against Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas fluorescens in TSYE broth (as determined using an indirect impedance method) was 0·125 and 2% (v/v), respectively; the former was not greatly affected by the increase of challenge inoculum from 103 to 106 cfu ml−1. Results with resting cells demonstrated that BMC was bactericidal to both Aer. hydrophila and Ps. fluorescens. The growth of Aer. hydrophila in filter‐sterilized lettuce extract was completely inhibited by 0·1% (v/v) BMC whereas that of Ps. fluorescens was not significantly affected by 1% (v/v) BMC. In addition, the effectiveness of washing fresh lettuce with 0·1 or 1% (v/v) BMC on survival of natural microbial flora was comparable with that effected by 125 ppm chlorine.

Antibacterial activity of essential oils and their active components from Thai spices against foodborne pathogens

“…Only few articles reported on the use of essential oil in the washing solution for decontamination of fresh vegetable 3,4,15 . Based on the antibacterial activity and the flavour of the essential oils, lemongrass, sweet basil, holy basil, and makrut leaf oils were suggested to be used in washing solution for fresh vegetables.…”

“…Some essential oils such as thyme and basil oils are effective against spoilage flora and foodborne pathogens when used in washing water 3,4 . This information prompted us to search for the active compounds of essential oils from Thai spices.…”

Composición química y actividad antimicrobiana del aceite esencial de Plectranthus mollis (Lamiaceae) de la región de los Ghats occidentales, Karnataka, India

“…The phenolic components are most active and appear to act principally as membrane permissible. It is interesting to point out that the antibacterial properties were more pronounced against Gram-positive bacteria (Wan, Wilcock, & Coventry, 1998). Resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to essential oils has been ascribed to their hydrophilic outer membrane, which can block the penetration of hydrophobic compounds into the target cell membrane (Inouye, Yamaguchi, & Takizawa, 2001).…”

Preliminary Report on Management of HIV/AIDS-Associated Opportunistic Skin Infections with PhytodermaTM, a Natural Myco-Based Cream

“…In (Tables 7 and 8), [19][20][21] the mushroom based preparation Phytoderm TM , was effective (95%) in the treatment of opportunistic cutaneous mycosis among HIV/AIDS patients in Cameroon, Central Africa [22][23][24]. The successful treatment of a number of Kaposi sarcoma cases [22][23][24], shingles is also promising, and this is the first report in the use of mushroom flora of Cameroon to attend to skin cancer [25][26][27][28]. The conclusion is drawn that these macro fungi [29,30] medicated cosmetics offer a comparatively cheaper safer and effective approach in managing skin disease in sub-Saharan Africa and more detail focus screening [31] for full exploitation is recommended.…”