title: Antimicrobial activity of clove and rosemary essential oils alone and in combination.
abstract: In the present study, the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. et Perry) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) was tested alone and in combination. The compositions of the oils were analysed by GC/MS. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against three Gram-positive bacteria, three Gram-negative bacteria and two fungi were determined for the essential oils and their mixtures. Furthermore, time-kill dynamic processes of clove and rosemary essential oils against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were tested. Both essential oils possessed significant antimicrobial effects against all microorganisms tested. The MICs of clove oil ranged from 0.062% to 0.500% (v/v), while the MICs of rosemary oil ranged from 0.125% to 1.000% (v/v). The antimicrobial activity of combinations of the two essential oils indicated their additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects against individual microorganism tests. The time-kill curves of clove and rosemary essential oils towards three strains showed clearly bactericidal and fungicidal processes of (1)/(2) x MIC, MIC, MBC and 2 x MIC.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yujie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yuangang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.forename: Liyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Efferth
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D045783:Clove Oil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027542:Rosmarinus / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D045783:Clove Oil; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C053775:rosemary oil