Antimicrobial properties of Ocimium Gratissium

Abstract

A preliminary investigation was conducted into the anti-microbial properties of the aqueous leaves extract of Ocimium gratissimium. The extract showed a significant degree of anti-microbial activity when compared to some other known antibiotics Ciprofloxacin, Co-trimoxazole, Tetracycline, Chloramphenical, and Amoxycline. This could be a possible justification for the folklore use of the plant extract in diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal upset. However, further investigation is be awaited for the isolation and characterization of the bioactive ingredient.

Keywords: Ocimium gratisimium, aqueous leaves extracts, anti-microbial properties.

Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol. 3 (1) 2005: pp. 41-43