In-vitro antimicrobial efficacy of certian herbal seeds essential oils against important poultry microbes

Abstract

Two in-vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties of essential oil of herbal seeds. In-vitro antimicrobial properties of essential oils of phytobiotics was determined by disc diffusion method against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella multocida and Salmonella typhi and two fungi namely Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. Thyme oil had statistically similar or significantly (P<0.05) higher inhibition zone against all the bacterial and fungal species compared to standard antibiotic, chloramphenicol or antifungal drug, nystatin. Fenugreek oil was not found to be active against microbes compared to control. Fennel and cumin oils had statistically similar or significantly (P<0.05) higher inhibition zone against all microbes except Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi compared to control. Antiviral activity of essential oils was determined by anti-NDV assay against New Castle disease virus (LaSota). The results indicated that essential oils of herbal seeds do not possess antiviral activity against NDV LaSota virus at 1mg/ml concentration.