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Litsea cubeba leaf essential oil from Vietnam: chemical diversity and its impacts on antibacterial activity
Author(s) -
Nguyen H.V.,
Meile J.C.,
Lebrun M.,
Caruso D.,
ChuKy S.,
Sarter S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/lam.12837
Subject(s) - linalool , essential oil , biology , chemotype , antibacterial activity , bacteria , antimicrobial , pathogenic bacteria , escherichia coli , membrane permeability , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , chemistry , biochemistry , membrane , genetics , gene
The threat of bacterial resistance to antibiotics has created an urgent need to develop new antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical diversity of Litsea cubeba leaf essential oil ( EO ) and its impacts on the antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. Essential oils collected from seven provinces in North Vietnam ( n = 25) were characterized by their high content in either 1,8‐cineole or linalool. Linalool‐type EO s were more effective against the eight bacterial strains tested than 1,8‐cineole‐type. Oil samples, LC 19 (50% 1,8‐cineole) and BV 27 (94% linalool), were selected to investigate their antibacterial mechanisms against Escherichia coli . A strong bactericidal effect was observed after 4 and 2 h of exposure respectively. Microscopic analysis of treated E. coli cultures clearly showed that EO s caused changes in cell morphology, loss of integrity and permeability of the cell membrane, as well as DNA loss. However, the effects of both EO s were distinct. LC 19 mostly affected cell membrane, led to a significant cell filamentation rate and altered cell width, whereas BV 27 damaged cell membrane integrity leading to cell permeabilization and altered nucleoid morphology with the appearance of spot and visibly altered compaction. Significance and Impact of the Study This study aimed to characterize the chemical diversity of Litsea cubeba leaf essential oil ( EO ) and its impacts on its antibacterial activity. Two major chemotypes (1,8‐cineole or linalool rich) were identified in North Vietnam and both were bactericidal against several pathogenic bacteria. A distinct inhibitory effect of EO samples on Escherichia coli was observed. 1,8‐cineole‐rich sample ( LC 19) affected cell membrane, led to cell filamentation and perturbation of cell width, while the linalool‐rich one ( BV 27) induced damages in the cell membrane and changes in the nucleoid morphology. The study demonstrates the importance of considering chemotype variations in terms of chemical composition as well as the mode of action.