Combined antimicrobial effect of basil (Ocimum basilicum L. ) essential oils and nisin bacteriocin

Objective: Combination essential oils with bacteriocins can provide an enhanced antimicrobial effect. This study was achieved in order to determine the synergistic effect of combined antimicrobial agents on pathogenic bacteria. For this purpose, basil essential oil antibacterial effects separately and in combination with nisin, on Escherichia coli O157 (ATCC 25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) were studied.Materials methods: Essential oil antimicrobial activity was evaluated in vitro against Escherichia coli 0157 and Staphylococcus aureus antibacterial effects of basil essential oil with micro dilution MIC and FIC testing method were determined.Results conclusion: The result of antimicrobial sensitivity test showed that the MIC of Basil and nisin lonely on Staphylococcus aureus is respectively 0.62 mg/ml and 7.8 IU/ml and also their MIC on Escherichia coli 0157 is 10 mg/ml and 1000 IU/ml respectively. The result of FIC factor measurement showed that the antibacterial effects of basil in combination with nisin on Escherichia coli 0157 increase synergistic while the antibacterial effects of basil in combination with nisin on Staphylococcus aureus do not change. So it can be concluded that basil and nisin have considerable impact on the Staphylococcus aureus and enhanced antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli because of synergistic effect. The results showed that the basil essential oil can be used in combination with nisin especially on Escherichia coli 0157to enhance antimicrobial effect in in vitro.More research is needed to conducted on the effectiveness of these ingredients in vivo systems.,