Antimicrobial Efficacy of OcimumM Plants

Historically, plants have been used as a source for the development of novel drugs in human welfare. Both crude extracts and purified active compounds from Ocimum plants, viz., Ocimum gratissimum and O. tenuiflorum have significant preventive effects against periodontitis and other diseases such as hyperlipidemia, cardiac, immunomodulatory diseases, etc., and also used as a diaphoretic in malarial fever. Both plants have played a vital role against gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp.) and gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Samonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis) bacteria and also against pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans. It has long been recognized that these two medicinal plants possess antioxidant properties, as a COX2 inhibitor and ROS scavenging activity. Several researchers carried out bioassay for antimicrobial activities from these two plants extract. The present review article provides the updated information regarding the antimicrobial efficacy of these two medicinal plants, Ocimum gratissimum and O. tenuiflorum.