ESSENTIAL OILS AND METHYLGLYOXAL: A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

Erin Cieslak; James P. Mack; Albert Rojtman

doi:10.22159/ijpps.2016.v8i9.12242

Authors

Erin Cieslak Department of Biology, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ, USA
James P. Mack Department of Biology, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ, USA
Albert Rojtman Department of Pathology, Meridian Health, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2016.v8i9.12242

Keywords:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Essential oils, Cassia, Cinnamon bark, Thyme, Methylglyoxal, Antibiotic resistance

Abstract

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.

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