Basilicum

Abstract: The essential oil composition of Cananga odorata, Boswellia thurifera, Cymbopogon citratus, Marjorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus limon was analysed by GC and GC–MS, and their antimicrobial and antioxidant activity tested. Twenty-five different genera of bacteria and one fungal species were used in this study as test organisms. These included animal and plant pathogens, food poisoning and spoilage bacteria and the spoilage fungus Aspergillus niger. The volatile oils exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against all the tested organisms. The oils also demonstrated antioxidant capacities, comparable with α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The method adopted in this study was the modified thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) assay. The antioxidant activity was carried out under different conditions by using egg yolk and rat liver in the absence and presence of the radical inducer 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (ABAP). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract: The chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils from 10 commonly consumed herbs: Citrus aurantium, C. limon, Lavandula angustifolia, Matricaria chamomilla, Mentha piperita, M. spicata, Ocimum basilicum, Origanum vulgare, Thymus vulgaris and Salvia officinalis have been determined. The antibacterial activity of these oils and their main components; i.e. camphor, carvacrol, 1,8-cineole, linalool, linalyl acetate, limonene, menthol, a-pinene, b-pinene, and thymol were assayed against the human pathogenic bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Micrococcus flavus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, S. epidermidis, S. typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. The highest and broadest activity was shown by O. vulgare oil. Carvacrol had the highest antibacterial activity among the tested components.

Abstract: Technological application of essential oils, as natural sanitizing agents, to reduce food pathogens in the post-harvest processing of foods requires the establishment of the optimal conditions. The present work evaluated the parameters of antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus globules ), tea tree ( Melaleuca alternifolia ), rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ), mint ( Mentha piperita ), rosa moschata ( Rosa moschata ), clove ( Syzygium aromaticum ), lemon ( Citrus limonum ), oregano ( Origanum vulgare ), pine ( Pinus silvestrys ) and sweet basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) on survival and growth of different strains of E. coli O157:H7. The strains of E. coli exhibited similar susceptibilities to the action of the essential oils assayed. The essential oil with the lowest MIC and MBC (Minimum Inhibitory and Bactericidal Concentration, respectively) was clove (0.25 ml/100 ml and 0.3 ml/100 ml, respectively) and the results demonstrated that clove exerted a significant bactericidal and bacteriostatic action.