Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of commercial rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

Abstract

Rosemary is well known as a spice and widely used plant in ethnomedicine worldwide. In this paper, commercial essential oil of rosemary was tested for antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity together with its effect on germination. Antimicrobial activity testing showed moderate effect to both G-positive and Gnegative bacteria. In order to determine its effect to the cell membrane, spectrophotometric analysis was performed. It was determined that rosemary affects the cell membrane of bacteria. Cytotoxic activity of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil had been evaluated. As a plant object, germinative bulbs of Allium cepa were used. Cytotoxic activity that corresponded to the concentration of essential oil was determined. It had been noticed that rosemary essential oil affected mitotic phase i.e. it significantly slowed down the mitosis. Also, investigation of rosemary essential oil's activity to germination was performed. It was determined that it had high effect to the germination. Concentration of 5 mg/ml completely inhibited the germination of Triticum vulgare.

Keywords

• essential oil
• cytotoxicity
• antimicrobial activity
• effect on germination