Use of Common Herbs to Control Microbial Aerosols in Toilet Rooms

Abstract

Four distinct plant species were used in an investigation into the capacity of plant active volatile essence to eradicate microorganisms in the atmosphere (bioaerosols) in restrooms: Allium sativum (garlic), Allium cepa (onion), Zingiber officinalis (ginger), and Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf). The study was conducted in the student restrooms for microbiology at Rivers State University Nkpolu Oroworukwu in Port Harcourt. Sedimentation method of aerosol sampling was used to collect the air samples. Artificial culture media were exposed to air at different times, including nutrient agar for total heterotrophic bacteria, Mac Conkey agar for enteric bacteria, sadour and dextrose agar for aerobic fungi, thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose agar for vibrio, Cystine lactose electrolyte deficient agar for urinary pathogens, and mannitol salt agar for staphylococcus. Samples was taken from the toilet without any mashed plant and served as a control. The THB isolates identified were Bacillus spp, Pseudomonas sp, Staphylococcus sp, Lactobacillus sp, Enterococcus sp, Corynobacterium sp, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia. While the fungi isolated were Aspergillus niger, pennicillum sp, Rhizopus sp, Saccharomyces sp, Mucor Sp, Candida sp, Asperillus flavus, Fusarium sp. It can be deduced that these medicinal herbs has the ability in reducing microbial aerosol using ginger, onion, scent leaf, garlic also by combination of the herbs which are Onion & garlic, Onion & garlic, Onion & ginger, Garlic & scent leaf, Garlic & ginger, Scent leaf & ginger, Onion, garlic & scent leaf, Onion, garlic & ginger, Garlic, Scent leaf & ginger, Onion, garlic, scent leaf & ginger. Specifically the microbial aerosols in this investigation including bacteria and fungi were Bacillus species, Pseudomonas species, Staphylococcus species, Lactobacillus species, Enterococcus species, Corynobacterium, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia. Aspergillus niger, pennicillum species, Rhizopus species, Saccharomyces species, Mucors species, Candida species, Asperillus flavus, Fusarium species. This work proved that microbial load can be reduced using natural means (plant extract).