ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS AND ESSENTIAL OIL OF SPICES (Lemon grass and Holy basil) ON SELECTED HUMAN PATHOGENS

Afuape A.O., Osifeso O.O., and Adewunmi A.R

Department of Science Laboratory Technology,

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere Abeokuta.

E-mail: afuapeolajumoke@yahoo.com

Abstract: Aim is to ascertain the effectiveness of lemon grass and holy basil extracts with their essential oils against five human pathogens. The ethanol extracts and essential oils were screened against four gram-negative organisms viz: E.coli, klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, and one gram- positive organism viz: Staphylococcus aureus. Essential oils were obtained through steam distillation. The MIC/MBC of extracts was tested using agar dilution method at 50/100mg/ml concentrations each, active component of the oils were tested by photochemical screening. Essential oils of the species showed antibacterial activity on all pathogens but significant activity shown similarly on both Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus followed by E. coli and Klebsiella pneumonia while Shigella dysenteriae showed least inhibitory activity. Although ethanolic extracts and oil of both spices showed promising antibacterial activity on all pathogens, the broadest activity was verified on their essential oils; being good preservative, can also be good sources of antibacterial agents.