Dilution tests in multiple tube system were used to evaluate the intensity of bacterial inhibition activity (IINIB/bacteriostasis) and bacterial inactivation activity (IINAB/bactericide) of conserver solutions containing ethanolic (alcoholature/in natura plant, hidroalcoholature/dry plant) and aqueous (decoctions/in natura or dry plant) extracts of Ocimum gratissimum L. ("alfavacão", "alfavaca", "alfavaca-cravo") - Labiatae - (Lamiaceae) on standardized inocula of Salmonella enteritidis (ATCC 11076), Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). All the different extraction methods presented selective inhibition and/or inactivation on the bacterial inocula. The alcoholic extract had the highest antibacterial activity (inhibition/inactivation) against the three agents. Salmonella enteritidis was the most sensitive to the antibacterial activity in all conserver solutions. Staphylococcus aureus showed the lowest sensitivity to decoctions, whereas Escherichia coli was the least sensitive to the hydroalcoholic extraction.
Ocimum gratissimum; antibacterial activity; bacterial inhibition; bacterial inactivation; plant extracts
