Antimicrobial activities of essential oils from different populations ofTanacetum nubigenumWallich ex. DC. andTanacetum dolichophyllum(Kitam.) Kitam. in Uttarakhand (India)

Abstract

Aerial parts of wild growing Tanacetum nubigenum and Tanacetum dolichophyllum were collected from five different Himalayan localities of Uttarakhand (India). The essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger apparatus. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of all the essential oils were tested against Gram +ve bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram -ve bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) as well as yeast Candida albicans. Results showed a significant difference in effects between Gram +ve and Gram -ve bacteria. E. coli and P. aeruginosa showed no any remarkable activity in all the oils, whereas Gram +ve bacteria were comparatively more susceptible to the anti microbial activity of T. nubigenum oils. The oils have shown stronger antimicrobial activity against C. albicans.