Study of Synergy between Mentha pulegium Essential Oil, Honey and Bacteriocin-like Inhibitory Substance E204 against Listeria monocytogenes CECT 4032 and Escherichia coli K12

Abstract

A b s t r a c t A r t i c l e I n f oThe research was undertaken to determine the possible synergistic interactions between any two antibacterial agents; Mentha pulegium essential oil (MPEO), honey and bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) E204 against Escherichia coli K12 and Listeria monocytogenes CECT 4032. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the broth micro-dilution method, and the interaction was determined by the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indexes. The results obtained show that the BLIS E204 and MPEO possess higher antibacterial activity at low concentrations against both strains tested with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.125μg/ml and 0.5v/v against L. monocytogenes respectively and of 0.125mg/ml and 0.5v/v against E. coli, respectively. However, application of the combined binary mixtures showed a partially synergistic effect between honey and MPEO against E. coli K12 and a highly synergistic effect against L. monocytogenes increasing the antibacterial activity. The combination of BLIS E204 and MPEO gave no interaction (neutral), while that between BLIS E204 and honey generated antagonism effect thereby reducing the antibacterial activity. These results suggest that the mixture of honey with MPEO at low concentrations could be a promising alternative to replace synthetic antimicrobial agents and lead to further research on natural products that could improve the antibacterial properties of honey.

Honey Antibacterial Effect Boosting Using Origanum vulgare L. Essential Oil

“…Then, honeys concentrations are introduced vertically into eight wells in a decreasing manner going from MIC × 2 to MIC/64, while the essential oil concentrations are introduced horizontally into seven wells in a decreasing fashion from CMI × 2 to CMI/16. The analysis of the combination was obtained by calculating the fraction inhibitory concentration index (FIC) using the following formula [ 26 ]: FIC ( A ) = (MIC ( A ) in combination/MIC ( A ) alone); FIC ( B ) = (MIC ( B ) in combination/MIC ( B ) alone). The index values of the fractional inhibitory concentrations are interpreted as follows: FIC ≤ 0.5 = Synergy; FIC < 0.5–0.75 ≥= partial Synergy; FIC ≤ 0.76–1.0 >= Additive; FIC > 1–4 ≤= No interaction (not differential) and FIC > 4 = Antagonism.…”

“…The extensive investigation of the antimicrobial activities of honey and essential oils against a large category of bacterial and fungal pathogenesis is extended to test the combinations of both natural products [ 25 , 26 ]. In all those studies it is found that there are positive interactions.…”

The Antistaphylococcal Activity of Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid, Gentamicin, and 1,8‐Cineole Alone or in Combination and Their Efficacy through a Rabbit Model of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis

“…Each association was performed in duplicate. e analysis of the combination was obtained by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index (FICI) using the following formula [27] e index values of the fractional inhibitory concentrations were interpreted as follows: FICI ≤ 0.5 means synergy; 0.5 < FICI ≤ 0.75 means partial synergy; 0.76 ≤ FICI ≤ 1 means additive effect; 1 < FICI ≤ 4 means no interaction (not differential); FICI > 4 means antagonism.…”

Investigation of Chemical Compounds and Evaluation of Toxicity, Antibacterial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Three Selected Essential Oils and Their Mixtures with Moroccan Thyme Honey

“…Thus, many recent studies have investigated the pharmacological properties, such as antimicrobial [24][25][26], anticancer [27,28], antidiabetic [29][30][31], and analgesic [32,33] effects of various Moroccan plants, and several studied their anti-inflammatory potential [34][35][36]. Rare are the studies carried out on the association between honey and essential oils (EOs) or plant extracts [18,[37][38][39][40][41]. None of them investigated the synergistic effect between honey and EOs for the treatment of inflammation.…”