Essential oils of Origanum compactum induce membrane permeability, disturb cell membrane, and suppress quorum-sensing phenotype in bacteria

Publication date: Available online 7 March 2019Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical AnalysisAuthor(s): Abdelhakim Bouyahya, Jamal Abrini, Nadia Dakka, Youssef BakriAbstractThe aim of this study was the investigation of antibacterial activity of Origanum compactum essential oils at three phenological stages on Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar-well diffusion assay. The MIC and MBC values were determined using the micro-dilution assay. The investigation of the antibacterial action was carried out by the evaluation of the effect of O. compactum essential oils on the antibacterial kinetic growth, the integrity of cell membrane and permeability of the cell membrane. The anti-quorum sensing activity was tested by the inhibition of the biofilm formation. The findings of this study showed that O. compactum essential oil has potent antibacterial activities against E. coli and B. subtilis. The lowest inhibition value against B. subtilis was obtained with O. compactum essential oil at the post-flowering stage (MIC = MBC = 0.0312% (v/v). The antibacterial mechanisms of O. compactum essential oils are related to the disturbing of the cell membrane integrity and the increasing of the membrane permeability, which leads to the leakage of absorbing materials (DNA and RNA). Moreover, O. compactum essential oils inhibited the formation of the biofilms, a phenotype that has been known to be quorum sensing regulated.
Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research