Antimicrobial and Phytochemical Activities on Selected Bacterial Strains by Essential Oil from Eugenia uniflora Linn (Myrtaceae) Leaves collected from Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the antimicrobial and phytochemical activities on some selected bacterial strains by essential oil from Eugenia uniflora Linn (Myrtaceae) leaves collected from Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. The oil samples were tested against a total of twenty-three (23) bacteria strains and they were active against a total of fourteen bacterial strains with the zone of inhibition ranged between 10 mm and 26 mm for the two extracts. The MIC was ranged between 0.0015625mL/mL and 0.1mL/mL while the MBC was ranged between 0.0015625mL/mL and 0.1mL/mL while that of Streptomycin (standard antibiotics) ranged between 0.0625mg/mL to 1mg/mL. The phytochemical constituents of the extract included tannins, resins, flavonoids, sterols, alkaloids and terpenoids. Results from this study showed that the essential oil from Eugenia uniflora leaves exhibited antimicrobial activity against some of the selected bacteria strains. This supports the potential of the plant in the development of antimicrobial compounds of natural origin.