The ability of selected plant essential oils to enhance the action of recommended antibiotics against pathogenic wound bacteria.
The aim of this work was to characterize the ability of essential oils to support antibiotics against pathogenic bacteria in wounds. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria obtained from wound infections were identified according to standard microbiological methods. Essential oils were analysed by GC-FID-MS. The susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics, essential oils and their combination was assessed using the disc-diffusion method. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration of the essential oils were established by the micro-dilution broth method. Although cinnamon, clove, thyme and lavender essential oils were found to have the greatest antibacterial activity when used alone, the greatest additive and synergistic effects against pathogenic wound bacteria in combination with recommended antibiotics were demonstrated by basil, clary sage and rosemary oils.
Department of Allergology and Respiratory Rehabilitation, 2nd Chair of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: monika.sienkiewicz@umed.lodz.pl.
Monika
M
Sienkiewicz
Department of Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Monika
M
Łysakowska
Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Edward
E
Kowalczyk
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Department, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Grażyna
G
Szymańska
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Department, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Ewa
E
Kochan
Physiotherapy Laboratory, Department of Physical Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Jolanta
J
Krukowska
Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology, 2nd Chair of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Jurek
J
Olszewski
Department of Allergology and Respiratory Rehabilitation, 2nd Chair of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Hanna
H
Zielińska-Bliźniewska
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D002056:Burns / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils
Additive effect; Antibiotic resistance; Essential oils; Synergistic effect; Wound pathogens