Antibacterial Effect of Essential Oil on Staphylococcus Aureus-resistant Strain (MRSA), the Causative Agent of Dermatitis

Abstract

The emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms represents a global challenge owing to the lack of new effective antimicrobial agents. Essential oils could be an alternative to antibiotics because of their anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antibiofilm activities. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of essential oils as an alternative to antibiotics. In the present study, we cultured methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) with two concentrations (0.5% and 1.0%) of 17 types of essential oils and the antibiotic oxacillin as the control. The optical density of the culture suspensions at 600 nm was determined to assess the effect of the essential oils on MRSA. At 0.5% concentration, 8 essential oils demonstrated higher antibacterial activity than oxacillin, with palmarosa, melissa true, and rose geranium showing the highest antibacterial activity. At 1% concentration, 13 essential oils showed higher antibacterial activity than oxacillin, with melissa true, palmarosa, lemongrass, and rosemary verbenone showing the highest antibacterial activity. Furthermore, essential oils isolated from leaves showed higher antibacterial ability. Overall, the antibacterial activity of essential oils against MRSA varied with the concentration, type, and extraction site. Therefore, our study provides a basis for the selection and use of essential oils for antibacterial activity against MRSA.