2014, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A

author(s)
Amra Zareen, Dilnawaz Ahmed Gardezi, Muhammad Naeemullah, Muhammad Shahid Masood, Riffat Tahira

abstract
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a widespread culinary herbal crop grown for fresh or dry leaf, essential oil and seed markets. The essential oils of three basil cultivars were investigated for their antibacterial activity. The essential oil of Siam Queen, Holy basil and Italian basil was tested against two gram positive (B. subtilis and M. lacticum) and two gram negative (Y. reukeri and X. axonopodis) bacterial strains in comparison with antibiotic, amoxicillin. Highly significant differences were recorded for essential oils/antibiotic, concentration and bacteria. Mean values for zones of inhibition against different bacterial strains demonstrated that basil essential oils of all the studied cultivars have good antibacterial activity against gram positive bacteria (B. subtilis) as compared to gram negative bacteria.