Blessed KEHINDE-IMASUEN

This study investigates the antimicrobial effects of the essential oil extracted from Ocimum gratissimum commonly known as scent leaf on selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. With increasing concerns over antibiotic resistance, the search for alternative natural antimicrobial agents has intensified. Ocimum gratissimum is a well-known medicinal plant used traditionally in many African and Asian communities for treating infections and inflammatory diseases. The essential oil was extracted using standard distillation methods and tested against bacterial strains including Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) using the agar well diffusion method. The results showed that the essential oil demonstrated considerable inhibitory effects on both bacterial types, with slightly higher activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The study confirms the potential of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil as a natural antimicrobial agent and supports its traditional use in treating bacterial infections. Further studies are recommended to isolate active compounds and evaluate theirmechanisms of action