Oscimum sanctum extract inhibits growth of Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains.

In the present study petroleum ether, chloroform and methanolic extracts of Oscimum sanctum were prepared using soxhlet extractor. The extracts were evaluated for antibacterial activity against one Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and one Gram negative (Escherichia coli) strain. The activity of the extracts was compared with the known antibacterial drugs, Oflaxacin and Penicillin G. Disc diffusion method revealed good antibacterial activity of the chloroform and methanol extracts compared to the petroleum ether extract. Methanolic extract was found to be most active against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacterial strains. The zone of inhibition of methanolic extract against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at 50 mg concentration was 16.0 and 18.0 mm, respectively. Chloroform extract also exhibited good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacterial strains. The zone of inhibition of chloroform extract against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacterial strains was 8.0 and 6.0 mm, respectively. The zone of inhibition of the drug Penicillin G against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was18.0 and 17.0 mm, respectively. Oflaxacin showed zone of inhibition to be 19.0 and 20.0 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The petroleum ether extract exhibited no activity against any of the two tested bacterial strains. These findings suggest that methanolic extract of Oscimum sanctum has anti-bacterial potential and therefore should be investigated for phytochemistry.