Antimicrobial activity of Mentha arvensis L. and Zingiber officinale R. essential oils

Anotacija

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of essential oils in vitro for a possible application to reduce the content of microorganisms in the air of animal farms. The essential oils Mentha arvensis L. and Zingiber officinale R. were screened against bacteria Staphylococcus aureus Rosenbach, Enterococcus faecium Schleifer and Kilpper-Bälz, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Migula, Escherichia coli Castellani and Chalmers, Proteus mirabilis Hauser and yeast Candida albicans Berkhout. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the active essential oils were tested using broth dilution assay at concentrations ranging from 0.1–50.0%. The oils showed a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity: concentrations of 0.1–0.8% of Mentha arvensis L. reduced the total bacterial counts of Proteus mirabilis Hauser and Candida albicans Berkhout. The dilution method revealed that essential oil Zingiber officinale R. only at high bacteriocidal concentrations was able to stop the bacterial growth. Zingiber officinale R. at 50.0% completely inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus Rosenbach, Enterococcus faecium Schleifer and Kilpper-Bälz, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Migula, Escherichia coli Castellani and Chalmers, Proteus mirabilis Hauser and yeast Candida albicans Berkhout. Keywords: bacteria, essential oil, antimicrobial activity, minimal inhibitory concentrations