Two aromatic plants have been selected for chemical investigation on account of their antibacterial activities,
Plectranthus glandulosus (fresh leaves) and
Cinnamomum zeylunicum (dried leaves).
P. glandulosus is used as a medicinal plant, while
Cinnamomum zeylunicum is used as a common spice in many
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Two aromatic plants have been selected for chemical investigation on account of their antibacterial activities,
Plectranthus glandulosus (fresh leaves) and
Cinnamomum zeylunicum (dried leaves).
P. glandulosus is used as a medicinal plant, while
Cinnamomum zeylunicum is used as a common spice in many recipes in Cameroon. The essential oils of the plants have been obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger type apparatus, the yields of oils are about 0.3% and 2.0% respectively.The essential oil of
P. glandulosus contains mainly β-thujone (about 31%), p-cymen-8-01 (about 25%) and neral (about 10%) and the essential oil of
C. zcylcinicum is characterised by a high percentage of eugenol (85%).These essential oils have been tested against three strains of bacteria, namely
Pseudornonas fluorescens.
Escherichiu coli and
Staphylococcus aureus; qualitative tests (diffusion through solid medium) and quantitative tests (dilution method) have been carried out.
P. fluorescens shows a higher resistance to the two oils (MIC values not less than 5000 ppm).
E. coli is more sensitive to these oils, while against S uureus the essential oil of
C. zcylcinicum still shows a high activity (3500 ppm).The antibacterial activities of the essential oils could be attributed to the components eugenol as the active component of
C. zcylcinicum and β-thujone and p-cymen-4-01 of the essential oil of
P. glandulosus.
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