title: Essential oils in ocular pathology: an experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) has been known for ages; in particular, the EOs of Melaleuca alternifolia, Thymus vulgaris, Mentha piperita, and Rosmarinus officinalis have been used for the treatment of fungal and bacterial infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study focused on the in vitro cytotoxicity to normal human conjunctiva cells and antimicrobial activity of 20 EOs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The oils tested showed no cytotoxic effect at very low concentrations. Rosmarinus officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia, and Thymus vulgaris L. red thyme geraniol sel oils had good antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study are of great interest and may have a major impact on public health, providing useful tips to optimize the therapeutic use of some natural drugs.
authors.affiliation: University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. sarac1977@libero.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cannas
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Usai
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benvenuti
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tardugno
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donadu
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.forename: Jayaraman
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaliamurthy
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Molicotti
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile