In vitro antimicrobial studies of the essential oil of Tagetes erects

Tagetes erecta, belonging to the order Compositae, is grown in Indian gardens and is commonly known as “Genda” in Hindi. Its leaves are good for piles, kidney troubles, and muscular pain; its juice is used for earache and opthalmia. The present paper deals with the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil extracted from its leaves by steam distillation in yield of 0.01%.

For determination of antibacterial activity oxoid nutrient broth was used for making the inoculum and the media was prepared by adding 2% agar to the oxoid nutrient broth. For determination of antifungal activity saboraud’s broth was used for making tbe inoculum and the media was prepared by adding 2% to the Saboraud’s broth.

The paper disc diffusion plate method was used for determining antimicrobial activity. Sterile discs (6 mm in diameter), prepared from discs of very pure and highly absorbent paper for the assay of penicillin and other antibacterial substances, were used. Discs dipped in the essential oil were placed over the seeded medium and incubated for 36 hours in the case of bacteria and 72 hours in the case of fungi. The experiment was perfumed in duplicate and the average zones of inhibition have been recorded. The activity of the oil was also tested in different concentrations. The dilutions of the oil were prepared in ethylene glycol. The results are reported in Table I (bacteria) and Table II (fungi).

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