Antimicrobial activity of clove oil dispersed in a concentrated sugar solution

Abstract

Essential oil of clove, dispersed (0.4%v/v) in a concentrated sugar solution, had a marked germicidal effect against various bacteria and Candida albicans. Staphyloccus aureus (five strains), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginose, Clostridium perfringens, and Escherichis coli inoculated at a level of 107 cfu/ml, and C. albicans (inoculum 4.0 .times. 105 cfu/ml) were killed (>99.999%) after 2-7 min in a laboratory broth supplemented with 63% (v/w) of sugar, and containing 0.4% (v/w) of essential oil of clove. Added organic matter (i.e. human or bovine serume) did not impair its antimicrobial activity. Sugar was not necessary for the antimicrobial activity of clove oil, but the concentrated sugar solution provided a good vehicle for obtaining an oil dispersion that is relatively stable for certain practical applications.