The Correlation of Some Nutrient Elements and Antibacterial Activity of the Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

This study aimed to analyze the correlation of some macro and micro nutritional elements of the basil plant (Ocimum basilicum) with the antibacterial activity of the basil extract on two Gram positive and two Gram negative bacteria. The extract of the basil plants grown in laboratory conditions was obtained by solid-liquid extraction with ethanol after drying and burning of the freshly harvested above ground parts. The macro (P, K, Ca, and Mg), micro (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B) nutrients and a functional element (Al) amounts were detected by ICP-OES. The results revealed that the basil extract was compatible with herbaceous perennial plants in terms of macro nutrient elements P, K, Ca and Mg. Moreover, some micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, B) and the functional element Al was found to be significantly high. The basil extract was significantly effective on inhibiting the Gram negative E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and Gram positive S. aureus and E. faecium. The element B was found to be positively correlated with the antibacterial activity of the basil plant suggesting as the B content increases, the antibacterial activity of basil extract is supposed to increase, too. The P and K contents were found to be positively correlated with antibacterial activity, while Ca and Mg contents were negatively correlated. The correlation analysis of the nutritional elements, this extract can be suggested to be more preferrable against Gram positive bacteria, especially when the Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn levels are high. These results revealed the importance of the macro and micro nutrient contents of medicinal plants which can be used traditionally against various diseases. In basil cultivation the soils low in lime may convert the negative correlation of Ca and Mg into a positive correlation in terms of antibacterial effect. Conscious and proper fertilization therefore is suggested to be effective on antibacterial activity of the basil plant.