Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Syzigium Aromaticum, Zingiber Officinale and Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Essential Oils

Abstract

The present investigation evaluates the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of essential oils of Syzigium aromaticum, Zingiber officinale and Cinnamomum Zeylanicum. The hydrogen donating ability of two essential oils was measured by reduction of DPPH and potassium ferricyanide. It was observed that antioxidant activities of essential oils increase proportionately with concentration. The antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring zone of inhibition using disc diffusion technique The antibacterial activity test was performed using gram negative bacteria Eschericia coli (MCCB 0016), Klebsiella pneumonia (MTCC 2405) and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). Standard antibiotic meropenem was used as control. It was observed that cinnamon shows maximum activity and minimum activity was shown by ginger essential oil against the three bacterial isolates used. Clove essential oil shows moderate activity.