Antimicrobial Activity of Some Important Medicinal Plant oils against Human Pathogens

Abstract

Essential oil or volatile oils of plants have been variously reported in medicinal applications. The volatile oil extracts of Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum bacillicum and Coleus aromaticus showed significant antibacterial activity against human pathogens such as E.coli, Klebsiella sp. Shigella sp. Bacillus sp. Streptococcus sp. Staphylococcus sp. Proteus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. In this, Coleus aromaticus showed greater effect against all species, especially in Streptococcus sp., 45 mm zone of inhibition was observed; antifungal activity against candida sp. was 30 mm zone of inhibition was observed. The volatile oil extracted from the herbs showed greater effectiveness in the inhibition of the bacterial and fungal culture than the commercial antibiotics. The exact inhibition may be due to individual or synergetic action of active principle present in the volatile oil.