Aromatic constituents of essential oils as antibacterial agents

Abstract

The extract with some ingredients (menthol, cinnamal, citral, eugenol, d-limonen, linalol) obtained by the conventional 60% vol. alcohol extraction. The chemical essential oils composition of the extract was analysed using GC-MS. The aromatic composition of the extract was tested for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus by the disc diffusion method. Extract showed strong antibacterial activity against all tested strains. These extracts showed different activities when tested by direct application and in the vapor phase. This study provides novel approaches for assessing the antimicrobial potential of essential oils in direct contact and the vapour phase. These results suggest that the tested ingredients might be used anti-microbial agents for decontaminating an indoor environment.