Antimicrobial action of oregano and cyprus oils extract against Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria isolated from different clinical samples

Abstract

Essential oils are concentrated natural extracts from plants containing bioactive components that have been demonstrated to have antioxidative and antibacterial properties. Methods: This study was focused on the antimicrobial activity of naturally Cyperus rotundus and Origanum vulgare oils extracted by following the hydro distillation process against fifteen K. pneumoniae clinically isolates Well diffusion method was used for testing the antibacterial activity of oregano and cyprus oils extract against studied bacteria under four different concentrations (100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%). Between these two essential oils, Oregano oil revealed a wide antibacterial spectrum against K. pneumoniae bacteria strains represented by measuring the zone of inhibition (ZIHs) area of growth. Oregano oil with 100% revealed the antimicrobial activity against K. pneumoniae which was isolated from burned samples with (67.0±2.64) milli metre inhibition zone diameter, under the 50 % oregano oil observed the antimicrobial activity against K. pneumoniae which isolated from stool with (30.16±3.12) mm. Other concentrations of oregano oil extract showed different scores of inhibition zone diameter, this differences statistically was ranging from highly significant to non-significant (P-value ≤, 0.05, ≥0.05). While Cyperus oil extract showed no antimicrobial activity against selected bacteria, Antibiotic susceptibility tests were applied to test the resistance status of all of the K. pneumoniae isolates and to compare the activity of oils with action of bacteria under the six types of antibiotics that belong to the Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) group. Such differences in susceptibility between the oil extracts and antibiotics are notable. Conclusions: Natural oil extract may provide an alternatives and supplements to conventional antimicrobial additives in foods or applying locally in clinical cases.