Chemical composition and evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of two essential oils

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and quantify the chemical constituents and to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oils from lemongrass (Cymbopogum flexuosus - EOCF) and basil (Ocimum basilicum - EOOB) against 24 isolates of Aeromonas spp. The main components of EOCF were α-citral (50.13%) and í­Å¸-citral (40.31%), while those of EOOB were linalool (53.35%) and eucalyptol (11.49%). The EOCF showed high inhibitory activity (â"°¥ 195.31 µg mL^-1), whereas EOOB showed moderate inhibitory activity (â"°¥ 781.25 µg mL^-1) for Aeromonas spp. Both essential oils have potential for application as antimicrobial agents, in particular EOCF.