EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF WILD MARIGOLD (TAGETES MINUTA) ESSENTIAL OIL ON SALMONELLA AND E. COLI

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella and E. coli, necessitates the exploration of natural alternatives.Tagetes minuta, a medicinal plant, has been recognized for its antimicrobial properties.This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of T. minuta essential oil against Salmonella and E. coli.The essential oil was extracted from flowers and analyzed using GC-MS.The major compounds identified included Aromadendrene 2, Beta Atlantone, cis-Caryophyllene, cis-Ocimene, cis-Ocimenone, Delta.3-Carene,Dihydrotagetone, D-Limonene, and Tagetone.The essential oil was tested using the agar well diffusion method.However, no significant inhibitory activity was observed against Salmonella and E. coli.These findings suggest that the specific composition of the essential oil, particularly the lower content of cis-Ocimene, may influence its antimicrobial activity.Further research is needed to explore the factors affecting the antimicrobial properties of T. minuta essential oil and to identify optimal extraction methods to maximize its potential as a natural antimicrobial agent.