Enhanced Antibacterial Efficacy of Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt in Combination with Carvacrol

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 60 - 67, 28.11.2024

Ezgi Ak-sakallı , Mehmet İlktaç , Beste Atlı , Nesrin Öztinen , Müberra Koşar , Fatih Demirci

https://doi.org/10.54994/emujpharmsci.1560697

Abstract

The continuous increase of antibiotic resistance and the lag in development of novel antibiotics are two important challenges in treatment of infectious diseases. Essential oils (EOs) and their combinations are promising alternatives for treatment of bacterial infections. Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt EO, recognized by the European Medicines Agency for its sleep-enhancing and anxiety-relieving properties, also possesses sedative qualities, as noted in the German Commission E monograph, and aids in treating sleep disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate antibacterial activities of the C.winterianus EO and carvacrol combination. Commercial C. winterianus EO and carvacrol were tested for antibacterial activity against the American Type Culture Collection quality control strains Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae using the broth microdilution method. Ciprofloxacin served as the standard antimicrobial agent. Checkerboard assay was used to evaluate the combined effects of C. winterianus EO and carvacrol.
The results showed that C. winterianus EO exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The interaction between C. winterianus EO and carvacrol was additive against all tested bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration of carvacrol decreased by 2- to 8-fold when the carvacrol combined with C. winterianus EO, and carvacrol also enhanced the antibacterial activity of EO by 2- to 16-fold.

Keywords

synergy, combination, essential oil, cymbopogon winterianus, carvacrol, antibacterial

References

• Berenbaum MC (1978). A method for testing for synergy with any number of agents. J Infect Dis 137(2): 122-130.
• CLSI (Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute) (2023). Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, 33rd ed. Wayne, Pennsylvania.
• Doern CD, Humphries RM, Belkum A (2010). Synergy testing: Broth microdilution and broth macrodilution checkerboard methods. Leber AL, Burnham CD (eds). In: Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, 5th ed. American Society for Microbiology Press.
• Imran M, Aslam M, Alsagaby SA, Saeed F, Ahmad I, et al. (2022). Therapeutic application of carvacrol: A comprehensive review. Food Sci Nutr 10(11): 3544-3561.
• Lira MHPD, Andrade Júnior FPD, Moraes GFQ, Macena GDS, Pereira FDO, et al. (2020). Antimicrobial activity of geraniol: An integrative review. J Essent Oil Res 32(3): 187-197.
• Milos M, Makota D (2012). Investigation of antioxidant synergisms and antagonisms among thymol, carvacrol, thymoquinone and p-cymene in a model system using the Briggs–Rauscher oscillating reaction. Food Chem 131(1): 296-299.
• Munda S, Lal M (2020). Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor, a hub for various industrial and pharmaceutical applications. In: Singh B (ed). Botanical Leads for Drug Discovery. Springer, Singapore.
• Nostro A, Blanco AR, Cannatelli MA, Enea V, Flamini G, et al. (2004). Susceptibility of methicillin-resistant staphylococci to oregano essential oil, carvacrol and thymol. FEMS Microbiol Let 230(2): 191-195.
• Oliveira WAD, Pereira FDO, Luna GCDGD, Lima IO, Wanderley PA, et al. (2011). Antifungal activity of Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor against Candida albicans. Braz J Microbiol 42: 433-441.
• Ozkan A, Erdogan A (2011). A comparative evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer activity of essential oil from Origanum onites (Lamiaceae) and its two major phenolic components. Turk J Biol 35(6): 735-742.
• Sánchez G, Aznar R (2015). Evaluation of natural compounds of plant origin for inactivation of enteric viruses. Food Environ Virol 7: 183-187.
• Shasany AK, Lal RK, Patra NK, Darokar MP, Garg A, et al. (2000). Phenotypic and RAPD diversity among Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt accessions in relation to Cymbopogon nardus Rendle. Genet Resour Crop Evol 47(5): 553-559.
• Simic A, Rančic A, Sokovic MD, Ristic M, Grujic-Jovanovic S, et al. (2008). Essential oil composition of Cymbopogon winterianus and Carum carvi and their antimicrobial activities. Pharm Biol 46(6): 437-441.
• Verma RS, Verma SK, Tandon S, Padalia RC, Darokar MP (2020). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor) essential oil extracted by different methods. J Essent Oil Res 32(5): 449-455.
• Wany A, Jha S, Nigam VK, Pandey DM (2013). Chemical analysis and therapeutic uses of citronella oil from Cymbopogon winterianus: A short review. Int J Adv Res 1(6): 504-521.
• Yadav GD, Kamble SB (2009). Synthesis of carvacrol by Friedel–Crafts alkylation of o‐cresol with isopropanol using superacidic catalyst UDCaT‐5. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 84(10): 1499-1508.