Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils of Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

  • Katia Cristina Hartmann Universidade Paranaense - UNIPAR
  • Sideney Becker Onofre Universidade Paranaense - UNIPAR
Keywords: Chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla, Antimicrobial Substances, Essential Oils.

Abstract

Essential oils extracted from plants are currently being used in chemical syntheses or as new materials, and applied in many medical, pharmaceutical, technological and commercial areas. Current research evaluates the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of the chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), on the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC-25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-25923 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC. Oil extraction was processed by hydro-distillation in a Clevenger apparatus, whereas the method of diffusion in agar evaluated antimicrobial activity. Results showed that E. coli ATCC-25922 was sensitive to the activities of the oil, with CIM = 1.56%. Although the strain S. aureus ATCC-26923 was also sensitive to the oil’s activity, it was more resistant, with CIM at the concentration = 6.25%. The bacterium P. aeruginosa ATCC-9027 was resistant to the components of the essential oil of the chamomile, and did not display any level of sensitivity.

Author Biographies

Katia Cristina Hartmann, Universidade Paranaense - UNIPAR
Bióloga graduada na Universidade Paranaense – UNIPAR. E-mail: katia_hartmann@yahoo.com.br
Sideney Becker Onofre, Universidade Paranaense - UNIPAR
Bíologo, Especialista em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Mestre em Biotecnologia, Doutor em Processos Biotecnológicos e Pós-doutor em Impactos Ambientais. Atualmente é Prof. Titular da Universidade Paranaense - UNIPAR - Campus de Francisco Beltrão - PR.
Published
2010-09-21
Section
Artigos Originais