In Vitro Evaluation of Antimicrobial Potential of Ocimum tenuiflorum Leaf Extracts against Waterborne Pathogens

Author(s)

Balachandar, S., Rajendran, R., Manikandan, A., Hemalatha, K.

Author's Affiliation

Abstract

The in vitro antimicrobial activity of leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum was investigated against water isolates of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Shigella dysenteriae using disc diffusion method. The aqueous extracts did not show significant activity, but the organic extracts had significant activity with the ethanol extracts demonstrating the highest activity against all the test bacteria. The ethanol extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum had a great potential of antibacterial activities (inhibition diameters ranged from 12–28 mm) against all the tested organisms. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the ethanol extract ranged between 4 and 8 mg/ml and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) ranged between 16 to 32 mg/ml for all organisms. In conclusion, these extracts could be promising natural antimicrobial agents with potential applications in controlling bacterial contaminants of water.

Keywords

Ocimum tenuiflorum, Antimicrobial Activity, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC)

Cite This Article

Balachandar, S., Rajendran, R., Manikandan, A., Hemalatha, K. In Vitro Evaluation of Antimicrobial Potential of Ocimum tenuiflorum Leaf Extracts against Waterborne Pathogens, International Journal for Pharmaceutical Research Scholars (IJPRS), 4(1), 251-257.