Antimicrobial activity of essencial oil

Abstract

Essential oils are aromatic compounds produced by the secondary metabolism of plants in order to provide defense mechanisms against attacks by pests and diseases. The aim of this study was to verify the antimicrobial activity of Alpinia zerumbet essential oil against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica. For this study, the essential oil was extracted by steam distillation using the Clevanger apparatus. The microbiological evaluation of the essential oils was carried out using a disc diffusion test against the species Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica. Alpinia zerumbet essential oil showed antimicrobial action when compared to the positive control (standard antibiotic disks) ampicillin (10 µg/disk), chloramphenicol (30 µg/disk) and oxacillin (1 µg/disk), showing activity equivalent to 44,4%, 63,16% and 92,31% against Staphylococcus aureus and 66,67%, did not inhibit and 85,71% against Salmonella enterica.