Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activities of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Four Aromatic Plants on the in vitro Growth of Germs Responsible for Cutaneous-Mucosal Infections

Abstract

Several studies have shown that the essential oils of some aromatic plants have very good antimicrobial activities. But, knowing their low extraction yield and their sometimes toxic character, it was necessary to analyze the antimicrobial parameters of the crude extracts of four aromatic plants which are: Ocimum gratissimum, Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum canum and Cymbopogon citratus. Thus, dilution tests were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of the hydroalcoholic extracts on Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The results obtained show that the four plants have a power of inhibition of the in vitro growth of S. aureus and Ocimum gratissimum proved to be the most active on the various tested germs. Its MIC was 6.25 mg/mL and its MBC was 12.5 mg/mL on the Staphylococcus aureus strain, while on the two Candida albicans strains, its MIC and MBC were equal to 50 mg/mL. Cymbopogon citratus gave the best extraction yield which was 6.95%. This study demonstrated that hydroalcoholic extracts of aromatic plants have antibacterial activity just like their essential oils, although the latter are more active.