Assessment of Anti-Bacterial Property of Selected Essential Oils, Lemongrass, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Citronella, and Peppermint against <i>Escherichia coli</i> DH5α Strain

Essential oils (EOs) have been used as a common home cure for numerous illnesses, including headaches, anxiety, and insomnia, since ancient times. They are concentrated hydrophobic liquids that are rich in a complex variety of terpenoid hydrocarbons and contain secondary metabolites of plants. The objective of this study was to have a comparative analysis of the antibacterial characteristics of five widely used essential oils: lemongrass, lemon, eucalyptus, citronella, and peppermint. Escherichia coli DH5α strain was chosen because of its quick growth and ease of maintenance. The Agar well diffusion method was used to conduct the microbiological assay. Measure the antibacterial effectiveness of the oils, zones of inhibition were assessed. The current study's findings demonstrate that each of the five essential oils used has discernible antibacterial action, although the most potent impact is found in lemon essential oil. Further studies can be done to find the effect of a mixture of different essential oils in different proportions and the mechanism of its action.