Abstract:
Essential oils have long been studied for their antibacterial and
antifungal properties. Manaoag oil is known among the locals of
Pangasinan to have curative and antimicrobial effects. The oil was tested
against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces sp. and
Penicillium spp. using the disc-diffusion method. This test was run parallel
to that of eucalyptus and coconut oils. No zones of inhibition was found in
all four microorganisms. Eucalyptus oil produced large zones of inhibition
in all the tested microorganisms — an indication of antimicrobial activity.
Coconut oil was ineffective in inhibiting bacterial or fungal growth in vitro.
Phytochemical screening of Manaoag oil revealed traces of sterols and no
other precursor components.
