The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oregano essential oil, carvacrol and thymol on biofilm-grown Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, as well as the effects of the oils on biofilm formation. For most of the S. aureus (n=6) and S. epidermidis (n=6) strains tested, the biofilm inhibitory concentration (0.125–0.500 %, v/v, for oregano, and 0.031–0.125 %, v/v, for carvacrol and thymol) and biofilm eradication concentration (0.25–1.0 %, v/v, for oregano and 0.125–0.500 %, v/v, for carvacrol and thymol) values were twofold or fourfold greater than the concentration required to inhibit planktonic growth. Subinhibitory concentrations of the oils attenuated biofilm formation of S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains on polystyrene microtitre plates.
AlamK.,
NagiM. N.,
BadaryO. A.,
Al-ShabanahO. A.,
Al-RikabiA. C.,
Al-BekairiA. M.1999; The protective action of thymol against carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in mice. Pharmacol Res 40:159–163[CrossRef]
ChamiN.,
BennisS.,
ChamiF.,
AboussekhraA.,
RemmalA.2005; Study of anticandidal activity of carvacrol and eugenol in vitro and in vivo
. Oral Microbiol Immunol 20:106–111[CrossRef]
CramtonS. E.,
GerkeC.,
SchnellN. F.,
NicholsW. W.,
GötzF.1999; The intercellular adhesion ( ica ) locus in Staphylococcus aureus and is required for biofilm formation. Infect Immun 67:5427–5433
FriedmanM.,
HenikaP. R.,
MandrellR. E.2002; Bactericidal activities of plant essential oils and some of their isolated constituents against Campylobacter jejuni , Escherichia coli , Listeria monocytogenes , and Salmonella enterica
. J Food Prot 65:1545–1560
GriffinS. G.,
WyllieS. G.,
MarkhamJ. L.,
LeachD.1999; The role of structure and molecular properties of terpenoids in determining their antimicrobial activity. Flavour Fragr J 14:322–332[CrossRef]
HelanderI. M.,
AlakomiH. L.,
Latva-KalaK.,
Mattila-SandholmT.,
PolI.,
SmidE. J.,
GorrisL. G. M.,
von WrightA.1998; Characterization of the action of selected essential oil components on Gram-negative bacteria. J Agric Food Chem 46:3590–3595[CrossRef]
JohnsonS. A.,
GoddardP. A.,
IliffeC.,
TimminsB.,
RickardA. H.,
RobsonG.,
HandleyP. S.2002; Comparative susceptibility of resident and transient hand bacteria to para-chloro-meta-xylenol and triclosan. J Appl Microbiol 93:336–344[CrossRef]
JuvenB. J.,
KannerJ.,
SchvedF.,
WeisslowiczH.1994; Factors that interact with the antibacterial action of thyme essential oil and its active constituents. J Appl Bacteriol 76:626–631[CrossRef]
KnowlesJ. R.,
RollerS.,
MurrayD. B.,
NaiduA. S.2005; Antimicrobial action of carvacrol at different stages of dual-species biofilm development by Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Appl Environ Microbiol 71:797–803[CrossRef]
LambertR. J. W.,
SkandamisP. N.,
CooteP. J.,
NychasG. J. E.2001; A study of the minimum inhibitory concentration and mode of action of oregano essential oil, thymol and carvacrol. J Appl Microbiol 91:453–462[CrossRef]
NostroA.,
BlancoA. R.,
CannatelliM. A.,
EneaV.,
FlaminiG.,
MorelliI.,
Sudano RoccaroA.,
AlonzoV.2004; Susceptibility of methicillin-resistant staphylococci to oregano essential oil, carvacrol and thymol. FEMS Microbiol Lett 230:191–195[CrossRef]
RobledoS.,
OsorioE.,
MunozD.,
JaramilloL. M.,
RestrepoA.,
ArangoG.,
VelezI.2005; In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicities and antileishmanial activities of thymol and hemisynthetic derivatives. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 49:1652–1655[CrossRef]
UlteeA.,
BennikM. H.,
MoezelaarR.2002; The phenolic hydroxyl group of carvacrol is essential for action against the food-borne pathogen Bacillus cereus
. Appl Environ Microbiol 68:1561–1568[CrossRef]
WeberF. J.,
de BontJ. A.1996; Adaptation mechanisms of microorganisms to the toxic effects of organic solvents on membranes. Biochim Biophys Acta 1286:225–245[CrossRef]
ZeytinogluH.,
IncesuZ.,
BaserK. H.2003; Inhibition of DNA synthesis by carvacrol in mouse myoblast cells bearing a human N-RAS oncogene. Phytomedicine 10:292–299[CrossRef]