Abstract
The antibacterial activity of 50 essential oils and 24 oleoresins of spices and herbs against upper airway respiratory tract bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis was examined. The essential oils of cinnamon leaf, sage, clove, cardamom and thyme, and the oleoresins of ginkgo, licorice and nutmeg inhibited the growth of the bacteria. The antimicrobial test was also carried out on selected 45 volatile chemical compounds. Among the selected volatile constituents, carvacrol, methyl chavicol, bornyl acetate, menthyl acetate, α-terpinyl acetate and viridiflorol showed the antimicrobial effect. Essential oils of cardamom, laurel and melissa as well as three of their major constituents, geranyl acetate, menthyl acetate and α-terpinyl acetate, possessed antibacterial property against upper airway respiratory tract bacteria. Although eugenol, which was major compornent of cinnamon leaf and clove oils with antibacterial activity, did not show any activity against oropharyngeal pathogens, eugenol played a considerable synergistic effect on β-caryophyllene.
