Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils, 2nd Volume

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant-Derived Antibiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 7088

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: microbiology; multidrug resistance; essential oils; bacterial biofilm; bacteriocin and probiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: microbiology; multidrug resistance; essential oils; bacterial biofilms; bacteriocin and probiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: microbiology; multidrug resistance; essential oils; bacterial biofilm; bacteriocin and probiotics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aromatic plants and infusions prepared from them have been used in medicines and cosmetics for thousands of years. As part of modern phytotherapy, essential oils (EOs) are a class of plant derivatives of particular interest for their scientific aspects and applicative implications. EOs are a complex mixture of volatile compounds obtained from different parts of aromatic plants, mainly by distillation. Although EOs’ chemical composition is quite complex, they predominantly contain terpenes, phenols, terpenoids, as well as aliphatic and aromatic components. EOs offer a wide spectrum of applications in different fields, such as in the pharmaceutical and food industries and in the industry of essence. A relevant EO application concerns antimicrobial activity against both pathogen microorganisms and their biofilms. Their efficacy as antimicrobial agents is related to the activity of many components acting alone or in synergic combination with other antibiotics.

Considering the growing phenomenon of antibiotic resistance and the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, research focused on antimicrobial activity, the mechanism of action, or possible applications of EOs have attracted renewed interest.

This Special Issue represents the second volume of “Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils” and aims to publish manuscripts that might clarify the possible use of EOs in both the control of microbial infections and biofilm formation by MDR bacteria in humans, veterinary medicine, and the food industry.

Dr. Carla Sabia
Dr. Ramona Iseppi
Dr. Carla Condò
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • essential oil
  • antibacterial activity
  • antibiofilm activity
  • antibiotic-resistance
  • EOs synergy
  • food preservation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2887 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Inhibition of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by Melaleuca alternifolia Chell (Tea Tree) and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Essential Oils in Association with Oxacillin
by Ramona Iseppi, Carla Condò and Patrizia Messi
Antibiotics 2023, 12(5), 846; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12050846 - 03 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1827
Abstract
The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has become a major therapeutic priority. This trend indicates the need for alternative agents to antibiotics, such as natural compounds of plant origin. By assessing membrane permeability, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of Melaleuca alternifolia and Eucalyptus globulus [...] Read more.
The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has become a major therapeutic priority. This trend indicates the need for alternative agents to antibiotics, such as natural compounds of plant origin. By assessing membrane permeability, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of Melaleuca alternifolia and Eucalyptus globulus essential oils (EOs) against three strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Using the checkerboard method, the efficacy of single EOs, in association with each other or in combination with oxacillin, was quantified by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC Index). All EOs showed a reduction in bacterial load, an alteration of membrane permeability which leads to an increase in its function, resulting in the release of nucleic acids and proteins. The treatment with EO–oxacillin combinations and associated EO–EO resulted in a synergistic effect in most of the tests performed. EO–EO association showed a high activity in the alteration of the membrane, increasing the permeability to about 80% in all the MRSA strains treated. In conclusion, the combination of EOs and antibiotics represents a valid therapeutic support against MRSA bacteria, allowing for a decrease in the antibiotic concentration needed for therapeutic use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils, 2nd Volume)
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24 pages, 7040 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential of Ptychotis verticillata Duby Essential Oil from Eastern Morocco: An In Vitro and In Silico Analysis
by Mohamed Taibi, Amine Elbouzidi, Douaae Ou-Yahia, Mohammed Dalli, Reda Bellaouchi, Aziz Tikent, Mohammed Roubi, Nadia Gseyra, Abdeslam Asehraou, Christophe Hano, Mohamed Addi, Bouchra El Guerrouj and Khalid Chaabane
Antibiotics 2023, 12(4), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12040655 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2411
Abstract
Ptychotis verticillata Duby, referred to as Nûnkha in the local language, is a medicinal plant that is native to Morocco. This particular plant is a member of the Apiaceae family and has a longstanding history in traditional medicine and has been utilized for [...] Read more.
Ptychotis verticillata Duby, referred to as Nûnkha in the local language, is a medicinal plant that is native to Morocco. This particular plant is a member of the Apiaceae family and has a longstanding history in traditional medicine and has been utilized for therapeutic purposes by practitioners for generations. The goal of this research is to uncover the phytochemical makeup of the essential oil extracted from P. verticillata, which is indigenous to the Touissite region in Eastern Morocco. The extraction of the essential oil of P. verticillata (PVEO) was accomplished through the use of hydro-distillation via a Clevenger apparatus. The chemical profile of the essential oil was then determined through analysis utilizing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The study findings indicated that the essential oil of P. verticillata is composed primarily of Carvacrol (37.05%), D-Limonene (22.97%), γ-Terpinene (15.97%), m-Cymene (12.14%) and Thymol (8.49%). The in vitro antioxidant potential of PVEO was evaluated using two methods: the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical trapping assay and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. The data demonstrated considerable radical scavenging and relative antioxidative power. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most susceptible bacterial strains tested, while Geotrichum candidum, Candida albicans, and Rhodotorula glutinis were the most resilient fungi strains. PVEO had broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial properties. To elucidate the antioxidative and antibacterial characteristics of the identified molecules, we applied the methodology of molecular docking, a computational approach that forecasts the binding of a small molecule to a protein. Additionally, we utilized the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) algorithm; Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME); and Pro-Tox II (to predict the toxicity in silico) tests to demonstrate PVEO’s identified compounds’ drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic properties, the anticipated safety features after ingestion, and the potential pharmacological activity. Finally, our findings scientifically confirm the ethnomedicinal usage and usefulness of this plant, which may be a promising source for future pharmaceutical development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils, 2nd Volume)
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13 pages, 297 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition of Essential Oils of Bulbs and Aerial Parts of Two Cultivars of Allium sativum and Their Antibiofilm Activity against Food and Nosocomial Pathogens
by Filomena Nazzaro, Flavio Polito, Giuseppe Amato, Lucia Caputo, Rosaria Francolino, Antonio D’Acierno, Florinda Fratianni, Vincenzo Candido, Raffaele Coppola and Vincenzo De Feo
Antibiotics 2022, 11(6), 724; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11060724 - 27 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1993
Abstract
This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) of two cultivars of Allium sativum and their antibiofilm activity against the food pathogens Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. The crystal violet [...] Read more.
This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) of two cultivars of Allium sativum and their antibiofilm activity against the food pathogens Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. The crystal violet assay ascertained the susceptibility of the bacterial biofilms, while the MTT assay let to evaluations of the metabolic changes occurring in the bacterial cells within biofilms. Their chemical composition indicated some sulfuric compounds (i.e., allicin, diallyl disulfide, and allyl propyl disulfide), and decene as some of the main components of the EOs. The aerial parts and bulbs’ EOs from the two cultivars showed chemical differences, which seemed to affect the antibiofilm activity. The EOs from aerial parts of ‘Bianco del Veneto’ inhibited the biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes and E. coli (60.55% and 40.33%, respectively). In comparison, the ‘Staravec’ EO inhibited the cellular metabolism of E. coli (62.44%) and S. aureus (51.52%) sessile cells. These results indicate their possible use as preserving agents in the food industry and suggest their potential exploitation in the development of new formulations to avoid or limit nosocomial infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils, 2nd Volume)
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