Antimicrobial activity and Phytochemical investigations of some volatile oils obtained from some Sudanese medicinal plants

Abstract

Ten volatile oils obtained from eight Sudaneseplants belonging to five families, were tested for antimicrobial activity against four standard organisms (Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus), fifty seven clinical isolates of E.coli, Pr. vulgaris, Ps. aeruginosa, S. aureus (collected randomly from Sudanese patients) and three standard fungi (Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cervisiae). Most volatile oils tested have moderate activity against all standard organisms. All tested volatile oils showed some degree of antimicrobial activity. The volatile oil of Citrus aurantifolia obtained from leaves recordedthe highest activity against S.aureus; on the other hand the volatile oil of Pimpinella anisumshowed low activity against S.aureus. Volatile oils of Mentha spicata, Ocimum basilicumand Eucalyptus globulushave low activity against Ps. aeruginosa,while Pr. vulgariswas resistant to volatile oil of Eucalyptus globulus. The activity of volatile oils against clinical isolates showed that volatile oils of Mentha spicata, Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus aurantifolia(leaves, fruit peel) and Citrus sinensis(leaves, and fruit peel) scored high activity against all clinical isolates while volatile oils of Citrus paradisi, Pimpinell anisum, Ocimum basilicumand Eucalyptus globulus showed low activity compared with other volatile oils. Reference antibiotics were tested against standard organisms and the results werecompared with the activity of the volatile oils. Volatile oils showed some degree of antifungal activity. Volatile oil of Citrus aurantifoliaobtained from leaves showed high activity against all standard fungi tested.