African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (10), pp. 1175-1176, October 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Short Communication

The susceptibility of Escherichia coli strains to essential oils of Rormarinus officinalis and Eucalyptus globulus

K. Mounchid ¹*, F. Bourjilat², N. Dersi², T. Aboussaouira¹, A. Rachidai³, A. Tantaoui-Elaraki⁴, M. Alaoui-Ismaili⁵.

¹Laboratoire d’Histologie. Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie. Casablanca.

²Laboratoire de Bactériologie. Centre de Biologie Médicale. Institut Pasteur. Casablanca.

³Laboratoire d’Agrophysiologie et Culture In vitro. Faculté des Sciences. Kénitra.

⁴Laboratoire de Microbilogie. Institut Sup-Agro. Casablanca.

⁵Laboratoire de Biochimie. Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire. Rabat.

*Corresponding Author E- mail: mounchid@hotmail.com, Tél: (01) 212 68 49 87 53.

Accepted 23 July, 2003

Essential oils are frequently used for flavour and fragrance in the perfume, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. They are also suitable raw material for production of new synthetic agents. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils obtained by steam distillation of Rosmarinus officinalis L and Eucalyptus globules collected in south Morocco was studied by micro-atmospheric technique against Escherichia coli CIP54127 and E. coli isolated from urine and resistant to several antibiotics. Both essential oils were effective against the two strains bacteria in particularly against E. coli CIP54127. MIQ of both oils ranged from 60 to 70 µl for both bacteria. In conclusion, results show that essential oils are effective and could be considered as a natural antimicrobial source that can be used on production of natural antimicrobial agents.

Key words: Essential oils, antibacterial activity, Rosmarinus officinalis, Eucalyptus globules Escherichia  coli.