Antimicrobial Evaluation and Fraction-Based Profiling of Basil Essential Oil Against Vaginal Pathogens

Basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) has been traditionally used in various cultures for its medicinal properties. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of basil essential oil (BEO) and identified its key bioactive compounds. Antioxidant activity testing, as det...

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Main Authors: Minkyoung Park, Jumin Park, Dae Youn Hwang, Sohae Park, Heeseob Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Antioxidants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/6/628
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author Minkyoung Park
Jumin Park
Dae Youn Hwang
Sohae Park
Heeseob Lee
author_facet Minkyoung Park
Jumin Park
Dae Youn Hwang
Sohae Park
Heeseob Lee
author_sort Minkyoung Park
collection DOAJ
description Basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) has been traditionally used in various cultures for its medicinal properties. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of basil essential oil (BEO) and identified its key bioactive compounds. Antioxidant activity testing, as determined by DPPH and ABTS assays, returned EC<sub>50</sub> values of 115.36 and 54.77 µg/mL, respectively. BEO demonstrated significant antimicrobial effects against <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>, <i>Fannyhessea vaginae</i>, <i>Chryseobacterium gleum</i>, and <i>Candida albicans</i>, with inhibition zones of up to 25.88 mm and MIC values ranging from 31 to 500 µg/mL. GC-MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) identified monoterpene, phenylpropene, and sesquiterpene derivatives in BEO. In addition, Fraction 3 (Fr. 3) obtained by preparative HPLC had the highest antimicrobial activity, and methyl trans-cinnamate was identified as the primary active compound in this fraction. BEO had no toxic effect on <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> or human dermal fibroblasts. These findings support the traditional use of basil and highlight its potential as a safe, natural therapeutic agent with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
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spelling doaj-art-b491688d9bc34f4bbe188bbbf22cc1d12025-08-20T02:24:22ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-05-0114662810.3390/antiox14060628Antimicrobial Evaluation and Fraction-Based Profiling of Basil Essential Oil Against Vaginal PathogensMinkyoung Park0Jumin Park1Dae Youn Hwang2Sohae Park3Heeseob Lee4Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomaterials Science, College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomaterials Science, College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaBasil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) has been traditionally used in various cultures for its medicinal properties. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of basil essential oil (BEO) and identified its key bioactive compounds. Antioxidant activity testing, as determined by DPPH and ABTS assays, returned EC<sub>50</sub> values of 115.36 and 54.77 µg/mL, respectively. BEO demonstrated significant antimicrobial effects against <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>, <i>Fannyhessea vaginae</i>, <i>Chryseobacterium gleum</i>, and <i>Candida albicans</i>, with inhibition zones of up to 25.88 mm and MIC values ranging from 31 to 500 µg/mL. GC-MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) identified monoterpene, phenylpropene, and sesquiterpene derivatives in BEO. In addition, Fraction 3 (Fr. 3) obtained by preparative HPLC had the highest antimicrobial activity, and methyl trans-cinnamate was identified as the primary active compound in this fraction. BEO had no toxic effect on <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> or human dermal fibroblasts. These findings support the traditional use of basil and highlight its potential as a safe, natural therapeutic agent with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/6/628natural therapeutic agentphytochemical analysisantimicrobial effectsbioactive compoundsethnopharmacologytraditional medicine
spellingShingle Minkyoung Park
Jumin Park
Dae Youn Hwang
Sohae Park
Heeseob Lee
Antimicrobial Evaluation and Fraction-Based Profiling of Basil Essential Oil Against Vaginal Pathogens
Antioxidants
natural therapeutic agent
phytochemical analysis
antimicrobial effects
bioactive compounds
ethnopharmacology
traditional medicine
title Antimicrobial Evaluation and Fraction-Based Profiling of Basil Essential Oil Against Vaginal Pathogens
title_full Antimicrobial Evaluation and Fraction-Based Profiling of Basil Essential Oil Against Vaginal Pathogens
title_fullStr Antimicrobial Evaluation and Fraction-Based Profiling of Basil Essential Oil Against Vaginal Pathogens
title_full_unstemmed Antimicrobial Evaluation and Fraction-Based Profiling of Basil Essential Oil Against Vaginal Pathogens
title_short Antimicrobial Evaluation and Fraction-Based Profiling of Basil Essential Oil Against Vaginal Pathogens
title_sort antimicrobial evaluation and fraction based profiling of basil essential oil against vaginal pathogens
topic natural therapeutic agent
phytochemical analysis
antimicrobial effects
bioactive compounds
ethnopharmacology
traditional medicine
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/6/628
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AT daeyounhwang antimicrobialevaluationandfractionbasedprofilingofbasilessentialoilagainstvaginalpathogens
AT sohaepark antimicrobialevaluationandfractionbasedprofilingofbasilessentialoilagainstvaginalpathogens
AT heeseoblee antimicrobialevaluationandfractionbasedprofilingofbasilessentialoilagainstvaginalpathogens