EVALUATION OF INHIBITION ACTIVITY OF Ocimum basilicum LEAVES EXTRACTS ON SOME PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS

Abstract

This study included the qualitative chemical tests of some basic ingredients inOcimum basilicum leaves. The results showed that the leaves contain glycosides,alkaloids, tannins, resins, saponins, comarins, flavonoides and phenols. Theinhibition activity of O. basilicum leaves extracts were studied on some pathogenicmicroorganisms like Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli,Vibrio cholerae, Aeromonas hydrophila, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniaand Candida albicans. The results showed that the inhibition activity of the extractsof O. basilicum leaves varied with different extraction solvents andmicroorganisms. The organic phase of petroleum ether showed the best effect ofinhibition activity on the growth of S. marcescens and A. hydrophila which was 21and 25 mm respectively. While the aqueous phase of chloroform extract had thebest effect on S. aureus and A. hydrophila which reached to 19 and 22 mmrespectively.