Determination of clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) essential oil and comparison of its antibacterial properties with some conventional antibiotics

Eugenia caryophyllata (Clove) has long been used as a medicinal plant to treat infections and prevent food spoilage. In this study, with three methods of hydro distillation, steam distillation and hydro-steam distillation, clove buds were extracted and the yields of these methods were 10.9, 9.9 and 8.3%, respectively, which had the highest efficiency for water extraction method. Essential oils obtained by different methods were analyzed by GC-MS and 17 essential oil components were identified. Among these components, acetic acid, eugenol, eugenol acetate, m-eugenol, caryophyllene, hexadecanoic acid were the predominant components, the amount of which in all three types of essential oils were significantly different from each other. Also, the antibacterial effect of essential oils along with 12 common antibiotics on three types of Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were studied and compared. The results showed that the essential oil extracted with hydro-steam, compared to other extraction methods, has a significant antibacterial effect so that its effect on Staphylococcus aureus from Erythromycin, penicillin, glucosacin, vancomycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, ceftriaxone Amikacin and gentamicin were stronger, and the effect was similar to that of ampicillin, tobramycin. In conclusion, obtained results showed that clove essential oil can be used as antimicrobial compenent for different appliactions as well as for food applications.