title: Effects of Mentha suaveolens essential oil on Chlamydia trachomatis.
abstract: Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common cause of sexually transmitted bacterial infection worldwide, has a unique biphasic developmental cycle alternating between the infectious elementary body and the replicative reticulate body. C. trachomatis is responsible for severe reproductive complications including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and obstructive infertility. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether Mentha suaveolens essential oil (EOMS) can be considered as a promising candidate for preventing C. trachomatis infection. Specifically, we investigated the in vitro effects of EOMS towards C. trachomatis analysing the different phases of chlamydial developmental cycle. Our results demonstrated that EOMS was effective towards C. trachomatis, whereby it not only inactivated infectious elementary bodies but also inhibited chlamydial replication. Our study also revealed the effectiveness of EOMS, in combination with erythromycin, towards C. trachomatis with a substantial reduction in the minimum effect dose of antibiotic. In conclusion, EOMS treatment may represent a preventative strategy since it may reduce C. trachomatis transmission in the population and, thereby, reduce the number of new chlamydial infections and risk of developing of severe sequelae.
authors: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Sessa
authors: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Marisa
authors: M
authors: Di Pietro
authors: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Fiorenzo
authors: F
authors: De Santis
authors: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Filardo
authors: Department of Drugs Chemistry and Technology, "Sapienza" University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Rino
authors: R
authors: Ragno
authors: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Letizia
authors: L
authors: Angiolella
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000254:growth & development*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027541:Mentha / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D004917:Erythromycin