Antibacterial activity of essential oils from Citrus hystrix (makrut lime) against respiratory tract pathogens

Abstract

Many essential oils have antibacterial activity with a potential use in medicine. Citrus hystrix DC, or makrut lime, contains two essential oils, makrut leaf oil and makrut (fruit peel) oil, of which we determined the inhibitory effect against respiratory pathogens and evaluated their active components. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyse the chemical composition of the essential oils. The antibacterial activities were tested by disc-diffusion and broth microdilution methods against 411 isolates of groups A, B, C, F, G streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-resistant and -sensitive S. aureus) and Acinetobacter baumannii, obtained from patients with respiratory tract infections. Makrut leaf oil and makrut oil were both effective against all the pathogens with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges of 0.06-68 mg/ml and 0.03-17.40 mg/ml, respectively. Citronellal was found to be the major component (80.04%) in makrut leaf oil and had the lowest MIC. In contrast, makrut oil consisted of several components (limonene 40.65%, terpinene-4-ol 13.71%, α-terpineol 13.20%), and the most active component was α-terpineol, followed by terpinene-4-ol, and limonene. These results suggest that makrut leaf oil, makrut oil, and their components (citronellal, α-terpineol, terpinene-4-ol) may be alternative natural source medicine to prevent and treat many bacterial diseases.

In-Vitro Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad Essential Oils Against Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

“…The strong antibacterial activity of S. khuzistanica Jamzad essential oil is most probably related to its carvacrol content. Meanwhile limonene, the other major component of our S. khuzistanica EO (1.2%), has been reported to have weak or no antibacterial activity against bacterial pathogens (31). In conclusion, carvacrol rich essential oil of S. khuzistanica Jamzad showed the strong antibacterial activity against MDR clinical isolates of A. baumannii which can be used for treatment of infections in order to eradicate these pathogens.…”

Chemical Profiling Analysis and Identification the Bioactivities of Herbal Compress Extracts

“…Soap pod extracts has been demonstrated to have in vitro antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities [9]. Kaffir lime possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial properties and the major compounds are sabinene, β-pinene, limonene, α-pinene, camphene, myrcene, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, linalool, terpinolene and citronellal [10][11][12]. The main compounds in the essential oil of lemongrass are the monoterpene citral, a mixtures of the stereisomers geranial , neral and β-myrcene and antioxidant properties has also been reported [13,14].…”

Antifungal Effect of Kaffir Lime Leaf Extract on Selected Fungal Species of Pathogenic Otomycosis in In vitro Culture Medium

“…1 Preclinical studies have shown that the phytochemicals compound of kaffir lime leaf (KLL) and fruit have antioxidant activity, 2 free radical scavenging ability, 2 anti-inflammatory activity, 3 antibacterial activity, 4 antifungal activity, [1][2][3][4][5] and anticarcinogenic activity. 6 Phytochemical studies have shown that citronellal is the main compound found in KLL.…”