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Enhanced activity of carvacrol against biofilm of S taphylococcus aureus and S taphylococcus epidermidis in an acidic environment
Author(s) -
Nostro Antonia,
Cellini Luigina,
Zimbalatti Vincenzo,
Blanco Anna Rita,
Marino Andreana,
Pizzimenti Francesco,
Giulio Mara Di,
Bisignano Giuseppe
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2012.02928.x
Subject(s) - carvacrol , staphylococcus epidermidis , biofilm , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , antimicrobial , staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , food science , biology , genetics
Carvacrol is an antimicrobial monoterpenic phenol which occurs in many plant essential oils. The aim of this study was to investigate its activity at acidic pH on staphylococcal forming and yet established biofilms, with particular focus to improve its effectiveness on S taphylococcus epidermidis biofilm. The results showed that the subinhibitory doses (1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 MIC) of carvacrol determined a higher reduction of S . epidermidis biofilm formation than that observed at neutral pH. A potentiated inhibitory effect was also observed on established biofilm, carvacrol caused either a strong reduction of biomass (>50%) and bacteria attached to polystyrene (>7 log units). The images of scanning electron microscopy and the gas‐chromatographic analysis support these results. The development of acidic formulations containing carvacrol could be an important tool to control the staphylococcal biofilm in the medical and food environment.