Abstract
Hydro-distilled volatile oils from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) of 13 populations of different silvicultural zones were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against gram positive (Staphylococcus aereus, Bacillus spp.) and gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Samonella typhi, Klebisiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis) bacteria and a pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans. All the essential oils are active to the tested microbiles with different strength. The highest antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosae and Proteus mirabilis) was observed from the eastern Kenya (Meru) oil. Meru oil was the best and its effectiveness was consistent on nearly all the microbes tested. The oil from the plant growing in the coastal region of Kenya (Mombasa) showed the best effect only on gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis). Both oils (Meru and Mombasa) were dominated by monoterpenes accounting for 92.48% and 81.37% respectively. The monoterpene fraction was characterized by a high percentage of eugenol (68.8%) for Meru oil and 74.10% for Mombasa oil. The other major monoterpene was methyl eugenol (13.21%). Camphor (0.95%) was observed only in the Meru oil. (Cis)-Ocimene, (trans)-ocimene and beta-pinene were present in both Meru and Mombasa oils. The sesquiterpenes present in fairly good amounts in both oils were germacrene D and (trans)-caryophyllene. The minor sesquiterpenes were alpha-farnesene (0.85%) and beta-bisabolene (0.74%) which were present in the Meru oil only.
Highlights
Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) is an important herbal medicinal plant in Kenyan communities and in the sub-Saharan Africa
The present work reports the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum L., and the chemical composition of the essential oils of the most active antimicrobial populations growing in different parts of Kenya
Gas chromatographic (GC) analyses of essential oils diluted in methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) were performed on an Agilent GC-MSD apparatus equipped with an Rtx-5SIL Mass spectrometry (MS) ( ‘Restek’) (30 m x0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 μm film thickness) fused-silica capillary column
Summary
Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) is an important herbal medicinal plant in Kenyan communities and in the sub-Saharan Africa. (Lamiaceae) is an important herbal medicinal plant in Kenyan communities and in the sub-Saharan Africa. Several species and varieties of plants belonging to the genus Ocimum have been reported to yield oil of diverse nature, commonly known as basilica oils. Lemos et al, (2005), Adebolu et al (2005) and Matasyoh et al, (2007) reported some chemical compounds and active ingredients from these plants such as eugenol, linalol, methyl cinnamate, camphor and thymol. Various species of Ocimum have been reported for their numerous medical uses (Mshana et al, 2000). The present work reports the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum L., and the chemical composition of the essential oils of the most active antimicrobial populations growing in different parts of Kenya
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