In Vitro Evaluation of the Combination Activity of Carvacrol and Oxacillin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains

Abstract

Aim: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most resistant bacteria to antibiotics. Many antibiotics are known to be insufficient to treat infections caused by these bacteria. Plant-derived antibacterials have drawn more attention as a source of new therapeutics. Carvacrol is a monoterpenic phenol compound found in various essential oils and shows antimicrobial activity against many pathogens. In this study, the combination activity of carvacrol and oxacillin against ten MRSA clinical strains was evaluated.

Material and Methods: To determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of carvacrol and oxacillin against ten MRSA clinical strains, broth microdilution method was performed. The combination activity of carvacrol and oxacillin was determined with checkerboard synergy test. Whether both antimicrobials and their combinations caused membrane damage in MRSA-6 strain was detected by measuring the amount of nucleic acid leaking out of the cell across membrane with UV spectrophotometer.

Results: Carvacrol showed antibacterial activity against all MRSA strains with MIC values in the range of 64-256 µg/ml. The synergistic effect (FICI≤0.5) between carvacrol and oxacillin was determined against seven strains. Carvacrol caused a membrane damage on MRSA-6 strain.  As a result of combination with oxacillin,  the increase in the membrane damage of MRSA-6 strain was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001).

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, carvacrol increased the antibacterial effect of oxacillin against MRSA strains. Thus, carvacrol can be used in combination with oxacillin against MRSA as a novel antimicrobial agent. However, the results of this study should be supported by further studies.

Keywords

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,plant-drug interactions,synergy

Metisilin Dirençli Staphylococcus aureus Suşlarına karşı Karvakrol ve Oksasilinin Kombinasyon Aktivitesinin İn Vitro Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Metisilin dirençli Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) antibiyotiklere en dirençli bakterilerden biridir. Birçok antibiyotiğin bu bakterilerin neden olduğu infeksiyonları tedavi etmede yetersiz kaldığı bilinmektedir. Bitki türevli antibakteriyeller yeni terapötiklerin kaynağı olarak dikkat çekmektedirler. Karvakrol, çeşitli uçucu yağlarda bulunan monoterpenik fenol bileşiğidir ve birçok patojene karşı antimikrobiyal aktivite göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada on klinik MRSA suşuna karşı karvakrol ve oksasilinin kombinasyon aktivitesi değerlendirilmiştir.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: MRSA suşlarına karşı karvakrol ve oksasilinin Minimum İnhibitör Konsantrasyonlarını (MİK) saptamak için broth mikrodilüsyon metodu uygulanmıştır. Karvakrol ve oksasilinin kombinasyon aktivitesi checkerboard sinerji testi ile belirlenmiştir. Her iki antimikrobiyalin ve kombinasyonlarının MRSA-6 suşunda membran hasarına neden olup olmadığı ise membran boyunca hücre dışına sızan nükleik asit miktarının UV spektrofotometre ile ölçülmesiyle saptanmıştır.

Bulgular: Karvakrol 64-256 µg/ml aralığındaki MİK değerleri ile tüm MRSA suşlarına karşı antibakteriyel aktivite göstermiştir. Karvakrol ve oksasilinin yedi suşa karşı sinerjistik etki gösterdiği saptanmıştır (FICI≤0,5). Karvakrol, MRSA-6 suşunda membran hasarına neden olmuştur. Oksasilin ile kombinasyonu sonucunda, MRSA-6 suşunun membran hasarındaki artış istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmuştur (p<0,001).

Sonuç: Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre, karvakrol MRSA suşlarına karşı oksasilinin antibakteriyel aktivitesini arttırmıştır. Bu yüzden karvakrol oksasilin ile birlikte MRSA suşlarına karşı yeni bir antimikrobiyal ajan olarak kullanılabilir. Bununla birlikte, bu çalışmanın sonuçları daha ileri çalışmalar ile desteklenmelidir.

Keywords

• Metisilin dirençli Staphylococcus aureus,bitki-ilaç etkileşimleri,sinerji

Supporting Institution

Çalışma için herhangi bir kurumdan destek alınmamıştır.

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