Uropathogen Resistant Essential Oils of Coleus Aromaticus and Ocimum Sanctum

Urinary tract infections are common type of pathogenic infections in body. Essential oils of Coleus aromaticus and two varieties of Ocimum sanctum (Rama Tulasi and Shyama Tulasi) were compared for antibacterial activity against urinary tract infection (UTI) causing bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella oxytoca, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. Ocimum sanctum (Rama Tulasi) and Coleus aromaticus oils showed remarkable activity, later being more active. Least activity was observed in Shyama Tulasi variety of Ocimum sanctum. Constituents of the oils were analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. The essential oils have promising inhibitory effect with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.5μl/ml -6μl/ml. The essential oils of two varieties of Ocimum sanctum have differences both in chemical composition and MIC values against UTI infection causing pathogens. INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the second most common type of infection in the body. It is reported that about 150 million people suffer from urinary tract infections per year worldwide . UTI involves infection in the kidneys, ureters, and urethra caused by bacteria that may affect any part of urinary tract. In most cases bacteria travel to the urethra and multiply causing kidney infection . UTI is more common in women as compared to men. It is reported that about 35% of healthy women suffer symptoms of Urinary tract infection and about 5% of women each year suffer with the problem of painful urination (dysuria) and frequency . Several potent antibiotics are available for the treatment of UTI, but increasing drug resistance among bacteria has made therapy of UTI difficult. Bacteria have the genetic ability to transmit and acquire resistance to drugs . Plant metabolites are great source of bioactive compounds and serve as better alternative to combat with the diseases caused by multidrug resistant organisms. Since plant secondary metabolites are natural isolates, they are safe to use as therapeutic agent. In India plant parts and their extracts are in use from very ancient time. WHO reported that majority of Indian population depends on plants and their extracts for primary health care . A number of studies have been conducted on different plant parts to prove their antimicrobial efficacy 6, 7, 8, 9, . Plant extracts are mixture of many minor and major compounds of different nature therefore the chance of bacterial resistance is minimized.