Antibacterial activity of essential oil of Ocimum sanctum L.

Antibacterial activity of Ocimum sanctum L. essential oil was evaluated against five human pathogenic bacterial species E. coli, Klebsiella sp., P. mirabulus, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. by disc-diffusion method. Six mm discs were impregnated with 5 and 10 μl of undiluted essential oil and seeded over the plates aseptically having test microorganisms. The zones of inhibition were measured after 24 hours at 37 °C. The essential oil exhibited significant antibacterial activity against all the test pathogens, with maximum zone of inhibition against S. aureus (20.0 mm & 41.5 mm) and minimum against E. coli (10.2 mm & 17.8 mm) for 5 and 10 μl of essential oil, respectively. Similarly, the inhibition zones recorded in P. mirabulus were 15.1 mm & 26.0 mm, in P. aeruginosa 10.2 mm & 20.0 mm, in Klebsiella sp11.1 mm & 19.4 mm for two given concentrations of essential oil..