Antimicrobial activities of Centella Asitica and Ocimum Basilicum against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus sp

Centella asiatica (Pegaga) and Ocimum basilicum (Selasih Hitam) in Malaysia is commonly eaten raw by local as it is claimed to have medicinal purposes. Thus, this plant has antimicrobial properties. Centella asiatica and Ocimum basilicum were extracted to get the desired chemicals ingredients. Centella asiatica and Ocimum basilicum were extracted with ethanol. The extracts were then tested for efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus sp. by paper disc diffusion method. The prevention of microbial growth by Centella asiatica and Ocimum basilicum extracts, presented as minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) values, was examined by broth microdilution. Measuring the zone of inhibition produced by inhibiting growth of a lawn of test organism was carried out to test the susceptibility. The research showed that ethanol extracts of Centella asiatica and Ocimum basilicum had showed antimicrobial properties. Centella asiatica showed the maximum zone of inhibition against Staphylocoocus sp. while Ocimum basilicum show a maximum diameter zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli. In this study, Centella asiatica and Ocimum basilicum extracts was able to retard the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus sp. significantly which further can be developed into another new antimicrobial application.