Open AccessESSENTIAL OILS AND METHYLGLYOXAL: A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIAL INFECTIONS
Author(s) -
Erin Cieslak,
James P. Mack,
Albert Rojtman
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences/international journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2656-0097
pISSN - 0975-1491
DOI - 10.22159/ijpps.2016.v8i9.12242
Subject(s) - antibiotics , methylglyoxal , essential oil , staphylococcus aureus , minimum inhibitory concentration , chemistry , traditional medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , food science , medicine , biology , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics , enzyme
Objective: Essential oils are of significant interest in today’s world of healthcare because these compounds have a variety of medicinal properties. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro antibiotic role of essential oils as a possible alternative treatment in combatting Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methods: In conjunction with carrier oils, three essential oils (cassia, cinnamon bark, and thyme), as well as methylglyoxal were tested on MRSA using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration of each tested essential oil and methylglyoxal in carrier oil was determined to be 25% essential oil and 75% carrier oil mixture. This concentration worked much more effectively than the standard antibiotic, vancomycin, which is currently used to treat MRSA infections. Conclusion: Antibacterial emollients made from naturally occurring products like essential oils can be cost-effective alternatives to antibiotics. The results of this research show that these emollients are more effective against MRSA than standard antibiotics in cell culture.