Antibacterial and antifungal activities of Lithospermum ccinescens roots extract and acetylshikonin, isobutyrylshikonin — naphthoquinone derivatives isolated from them were investigated by measuring their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). L. canescens extract was found to have strong antibacterial and antifungal activities against investigated Gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus 1251, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 8040, and yeast-like fungi strain Candida albicans PCM 1409 PZH and comparable to chloramphenicol and amphotericin B activities. However, the extract potency against Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli PZH 026 B6 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa S. 85/2 was several times lower. Acetylshikonin and isobutyrylshikonin showed strong antibiotic activity. The effect of these compounds on the S. aureus FDA 209P was similar as effect of chloramphenicol.
In this study, the antimicrobial properties of essential oils obtained from Coriandrum sativum, Foeniculum vulgare Miller, Salvia triloba, Laurus nobilis L., Citrus limon and Origanum smyrnaeum L. were investigated. A total of eight microbial organisms belonging to six species of bacteria, namely Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes, as well as two fungi, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, were studied using a disc-diffusion and agar dilution (minimal inhibition concentration) method. The antimicrobial activity of essential oils obtained from the six plants turned out to be more effective in the case of bacteria than against fungi. The antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria was more pronounced than against Gram-negative ones. All the investigated plants are known as having healing properties and are used to treat various diseases. The essential oils obtained from L. nobilis and O. smyrnaeum showed the highest antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger, while the essential oils obtained from F. vulgare showed the highest antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa and E. coli. On the other hand, the essential oils obtained from O. smyrnaeum showed stronger antibacterial activity in the case of E. aerogenes and S. aureus, but were not equally effective against E. coli. The other crude essential oils showed varied levels of antibacterial and antifungal activity. The minimal inhibition concentrations (MIC ) of the essential oils obtained from O. smyrnaeum and of those obtained from L. nobilis ranged from 1.17 to 4.71 mg/ml, and 2.4 to 19.2 mg/ml, respectively.
The antimicrobial activity of two new series of bis-piperidinium compounds, with alkyl chains of dierent length, against bacterial (Escheri- chia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and fungal strains (Aspergillus !avus, Aspergillus niger, Rhodolorula rubera, Lipomyces lopofera and Candida albicans), are described. Antimicrobial activities of the synthesized compounds were compared to that of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride. Bis-piperidinium salts containing 12–16 carbon side chains showed better antimicrobial properties when compared to the standard dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride.
Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl belongs to the Asteraceae family, popularly known as Ayapana. It is a perennial shrub native to Amazon rainforests of South America. Its leaves are used through infusions, decoctions, baths, and tea. It is largely used in Brazilian folk medicine as sedative, febrifuge, stimulant, tonic and anti-inflammatory. The essential oil from aerial parts of Eupatorium triplinerve was analysis by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Thirty compounds representing 98.24 % of the oil were identified. The major compounds were 2-tert-butyl-1,4-methoxybenzene (74.3 %) and b-Selinene (8.6 %). The antibacterial activity of the essential oil was evaluated against ten bacteria (including Gram positive and Gram negative) and six phytopathogenic fungi. The oil exhibited moderated antibacterial and strong antifungal activity against all the test pathogens. The highest zone inhibition was recorded against Salamella typhae (21 mm) followed by Shigella sonnei (18 mm) at a concentration of 20μl/ disc on the other standard Ampicillin 20mg/ disc showed on average of 14-34 mm diameter of zone inhibition against the test organism. The lowest antifungal activities were recorded against Macrophomina phaseoline, and Botryodiplodia theobromae. The highest Alternaria alternate (12000 ppm). Further pharmacological and toxicology studies will be required to establish the therapeutic uses of this oil.
The antimicrobial activity of several extracts and fractions of some Sideritis species (S. albiflora, S. brevibracteata and S. pisidica) was investigated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods against Escherichia coli ATCC 11230, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P, Klebsiella pneumoniae UC57, Micrococcus luteus La 2971, Micrococcus flavus ATCC 14452, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 8427, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Corynebacterium xerosis CCM 7064, Mycobacterium smegmatis CCM 2067, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Bacillus cereus ATCC 9730, Kluyveromyces fragilis NRRL 2415 and Rhodotorula rubra CCY. The methanol extract and chloroform fraction of S. pisidica, as well as the methanol extracts, butanol and chloroform fractions of both S. albiflora and S. brevibracteata showed good antimicrobial activity against some bacteria and all yeasts tested, with growth inhibition area diameters in the range 10-20 mm, and MIC values between 0.03 and 0.38 µl/ml. The results of the study support the use of these species in traditional medicine.
The antimicrobial effect of the polyphenol mangiferin obtained from leaves of mango tr was studied according to the diffusion method. The solutions of mangiferin in polyetl ene glycol-400 showed an activity with regard to seven bacterial and five fungal spec - Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus citreus, Escherichia ( Salmonella agona, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Thermoascus aurantiai Trichoderma reesei, Aspergillus ßavus and Aspergillus fiimigatus. Its antioxidant activity w regard to the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was also studied, as concentration of mangiferin causing 50% inhibition of the free radical (ICS0) was assa; to be 7.5 ± 0.0075 jug/ml.
Nowadays, safety of chemical preservatives has been questioned by a big number of consumers. Traditionally used preservatives often cause skin irritation and lead to allergenic reactions. Growing demands for more natural and preservative-free cosmetics promoted an idea of the replacement of synthetic preservatives with essential oils (EOs) of antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial effect of essential oil depends on content, concentration and interactions between the main active compounds. Effective preservatives should be characterized by a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity at a minimum concentration. Formulations containing both types of preservatives: essential oil and a synthetic one have been tested and proposed as a compromise that allows for reducing concentration of both components due to their synergistic activity. Although most essential oils are regarded as safe, some of them may cause risk of contact allergy or phototoxic reaction. A well balanced risk-benefit assessment of essential oils is one of the great challenges for scientists or health policy authorities. This paper presents current state of knowledge on essential oils focused on their antimicrobial properties, the assessment of their efficacy and safety as cosmetic preservatives.
Today it is quite important to develop new, reliable, cost-efficient, and non-toxic herbal anti-microbial agents in order to minimize environmental and health problems. This study uses the disc diffusion method to examine the antimicrobial activity of the extracts of Cotinus coggygria Scop. prepared in ethanol, methanol, distilled water, chloroform, acetone, and petroleum ether against the bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis. Cotinus coggygria was found to inhibit the reproduction of microorganisms at various rates. The plant extracts in distilled water and methanol were found to be the most effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterococcus faecalis.
Background. Evaluation of the biocidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics according to European Standards (EN) is based on determination of the reduction of the number of viable test microorganisms under defined conditions. Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate whether reducing the neutralization time required following declared product contact times for the tested microorganisms yields method validations. Material and methods. This study was conducted on 14 products containing active substances from different chemical groups: alcohols, aldehydes, biguanides, quaternary ammonium compounds, phenols, amines derivatives, oxidizing agents. These products were tested according to phase 1 tests: EN 1040:2005 and EN 1275:2005 and then according to phase 2, step 1 tests: Draft EN 13727:2005 and EN 13624:2003. Biocidal activity was evaluated using the following test organisms: S. aureus ATCC 6538, P. aeruginosa ATCC 15442, E. coli NCTC 10538, E. coli ATCC 10536, E. hirae ATCC 10541, C. albicans ATCC 10231 and A. brasiliensis ATCC 16404. Results. Validation C results for all products and tested microorganism strains were at least half of the density of the suspension for validation (Nvo) after only 10 s of neutralization. Furthermore, results from test procedures performed in parallel were also positive except 5 products toward A. brasiliensis. Conclusions. The results of our study confirm that the contact time described in the European Standards phase 1: EN 1040 and EN 1275, as well as phase 2, step 1: Draft EN 13727 and EN 13624 can be precisely determined in spite of reducing the neutralization time from 5 minutes to even 10 seconds.
Introduction: Due to its low cost and easy availability on the market, the petitgrain oil is commonly used in food, cosmetics, and aromatherapy. Objective: The examination of chemical composition and antibacterial activity of commercial petitgrain oil. Methods: Identification of chemical components of the petitgrain oil was performed by gas chromatography (GC). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations (MBC/MFC) were determined using macrodilution method for the reference strains of bacteria and fungi. Results: Twenty components were identified. The petitgrain oil contained mostly oxygenated monoterpene hydrocarbons (98.01%), and the main components included linalyl acetate (48.06%) and linalool (26.88%). The MIC/MBC of the petitgrain oil for bacteria was in the range of 0.63–5.0/1.25–5.0 mg/ml and for fungi in the range of 1.25–40/5.0–80 mg/ml. Conclusion: The petitgrain oil had higher antibacterial activity than antifungal activity. Bacillus subtilis among the tested bacteria and Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum among the fungi were found to be highly inhibited by the petitgrain oil.
Background. The ability of bacteria to develop common mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants raises doubts about the effectiveness of disinfection processes. Glucoprotamin (GP) is an antimicrobial active substance which is widely used to the disinfection in medical area. Objective. The aim of study was to compare GP’s effectiveness with susceptibility of reference strains used for the evaluation of bactericidal efficacy of disinfectants Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus); Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and standard antibiotic-resistant strains: meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and tetracycline-resistant P. aeruginosa (PAO-LAC). Materials and Methods. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of GP and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) against tested strains were evaluated by serial broth dilution technique. GP’s efficiency was examined according to qualitative (phenol coefficient GP-PC) and quantitative (EN 1040: 2006) test methods. Results. Gram-negative strains were more tolerant to GP than Gram-positive strains among tested strains. MRSA and S. aureus exhibited similar susceptibility to GP. PAO-LAC had significantly lower susceptibility to GP than P. aeruginosa (P≤0,05). There were no differences in GP efficiency against these strains based on GP-PC. According to PN-EN 1040: 2006 standard average obligatory reduction ≥ 5 log10, was demonstrated in the active concentration of GP (84 mg/l) at obligatory 5 min contact time for PAO-LAC and P. aeruginosa. The differences in basis bactericidal activity between PAO-LAC and P. aeruginosa were obtained in the active concentration at 10 and 15 min contact time (P≤0,05). Conclusions. Variation in a susceptibility of reference strains and antibiotic-resistant standard strains has no meaning at used clinically GP concentrations, which are higher than concentration causing basis bactericidal activity of GP.
Prunella vulgaris ( Labiatae family) or self-heal is traditionally used for different ailments such as eye pain and inflammation, headache, dizziness, sore throat and wound healing. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of extracts (methanol, ethanol and aqueous) were determined by a spectrophotometer. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by micro broth dilution assay. The total phenolic content of P. vulgaris extracts were higher in aqueous extract (156.5 mg GAC/g) followed by ethanol extract and methanol extract. The TFC content of P. vulgaris methanol extract (82.8 mg QE/g) was higher than ethanol extract (22.7 mg QE/g) and aqueous extract (16.2 mg QE/g). The antimicrobial activity of methanol or ethanol extracts was higher than aqueous extract from P. vulgaris. The sensitivity of microorganisms to different extracts is related to type of pathogens. There is no positive relation between total phenolic content and its antimicrobial activity. Prunella vulgaris ethanolic extract as a source of phenolic and flavonoid contents can be used as an antimicrobial agent