Author(s):

Dr. Venugopal Jayapal

Abstract: The leaves of Ocimum sanctum were hydro distilled in the Clevenger apparatus and the extracted Ocimum sanctum L. essential oil was investigated for its antibacterial effects by three methods. Minimal bactericidal concentration method showed that the 17 bacteria tested were killed by different concentrations of Ocimum sanctum essential oil. Klebsiella pneumoniae was killed by 2.81% concentration of Ocimum sanctum essential oil. Salmonella typhimurium, Burkholderia cepacia, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, and Corynebacterium diphtheriae were killed by 5.62% Ocimum sanctum essential oil. Acinetobacter baumannii, Shigella boydii, Serratia marcescens, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA and Enterococcus faecalis were killed by 11.25% Ocimum sanctum essential oil. Disc diffusion method showed that the growths of 18 bacteria were inhibited by undiluted Ocimum sanctum essential oil. 4 bacteria (Acinetobacter baumannii, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) showed lesser diameter of growth inhibition (from 6.5 to 8 mm), whereas other 14 bacteria showed growth inhibition diameters from 10 to 14 mm. Undiluted Ocimum sanctum essential oil inhibited the growth of 3 (MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae) out of 18 bacteria by gaseous contact exposure method. The Gas Chromatogram-Mass Spectrum analysis of the Ocimum sanctum essential oil revealed the presence of 19 components and the major components were Eugenol, Caryophyllene oxide, and Isoaromadendrene epoxide.

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