Studies on Comparative Antimicrobial Potential of Cultivated Patchouli Oil and Marketed Eucalyptus Oil

Abstract

The present investigation was evaluated the comparative potential antimicrobial activity of patchouli oil (procured from fresh and dried patchouli
leaf extracts, cultivated in Indian acidic soil zone) with marketed eucalyptus oil. Extraction of patchouli oil was carried out by hydrodistillation
method using Clevenger apparatus. The content of patchouli alcohol was estimated by Gas chromatography (GC) method. Microbiocides of
patchouli oil was compared with marketed eucalyptus oil (2.6%v/v) against several microorganisms viz. Bacillus substilis, Staphylococcus aureus,
Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonus aeruginosa , Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens by
agar diffusion technique. The Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) of the patchouli oil was appointed by the dilution method in the tube and
the results revealed the concentration dependent (p<0.001) potential antimicrobial activity of both the oils by determined with zone of inhibition
against standard ampicillin. At the dose of 300 mcg/ml patchouli oil gave maximum zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus (14.53±0.37**)
followed by 12.15 ± 0.35** against Streptococcus as compared to eucalyptus oil. The eucalyptus oil gave maximum activity of 12.13± 0.08**
(P<0.001) against the Staphylococcus, followed by 11.93± 0.34** against E. coli. Such variation may be due to the effects of rich organic carbon
content in acidic soil that increased the quality of oil content in patchouli leaves (collected from second year harvested leaves) rather procured
marketed eucalyptus oil. It proved patchouli is a strong potential antimicrobial plant.