Abstract

INCORPORATION OF AG-NANOPARTICLES COATED WITH ANTIMICROBIAL ESSENTIAL OIL FROM OCIMUM SP. IN A MOISTURIZER

Chachad Devangi*, Afkham Farzan and Mahajan Nivedita

.

Abstract

Medicinal properties are present in different parts of Ocimum sps. like leaves flowers, root, stem etc. and have been used by traditional medical practitioners. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of essential oil of an ecotype of Ocimum sanctum by disc diffusion method. Essential oil was extracted by air-drying the plant material in shade, powdering it and then using hydro-distillation. The oil thus extracted was diluted with ethyl acetate and was tested on various organisms using the agar disc-diffusion method. The organisms used were, bacteria - Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas sps. and fungi – Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. The dilutions of the concentrations 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% & 90% of oil with ethyl acetate were prepared. The concentration of 90% and pure oil (100%) showed more effective inhibitory zones as compared to the other concentrations on the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and fungi, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. The oil did not show any inhibitory effect on the bacteria, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas sp. silver nanoparticles coated with the essential oil were made by green synthesis using a silver nitrate solution of 1mM. They were then tested by UV-Visible Spectroscopy and were infused in Aloe gel. This gel can be used as a moisturizer which will have antimicrobial properties.

Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, ecotype, Ocimum sanctum, Nanoparticles, Moisturizer.