Abstract
Folk medicine uses wild herbs, especially from the Lamiaceae family, such as oregano and lavender, in the treatment of many diseases. In the present study, we investigated the antibacterial activity of the essential oils of Origanum glandulosum Desf. and Lavandula dentata L. against multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. The chemical composition of essential oils and their effect on the ultrastructure of the tested bacteria and on the release of cellular components that absorb at 260 nm were studied. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity and the production of reactive oxygen species in human lymphocytes treated with essential oils were evaluated. Thymol (33.2%) was the major constituent in O. glandulosum, and β-pinene (17.3%) was the major constituent in L. dentata. We observed ultrastructural damage in bacteria and increased release of cellular material. Furthermore, ROS production in human lymphocytes treated with essential oils was lower than in untreated lymphocytes and no cytotoxicity was observed. Therefore, the essential oils of lavender and oregano could be used as a source of natural antibacterial and antioxidant agents with potential pharmacological applications.
Highlights
Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have become a major global public health problem, through the acquisition of new antibiotic resistance, a consequence of the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics [1,2]
Previous European studies have shown that Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli were the species most frequently responsible for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) secretion [3], especially K. pneumoniae, part of the natural intestinal microflora, but regarded as an opportunistic pathogen [4,5]
Data retrieved from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network for the years 2005–2015 show non-susceptible rates for K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli against the four major antibiotic classes, namely the third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems
Summary
Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have become a major global public health problem, through the acquisition of new antibiotic resistance, a consequence of the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics [1,2]. Previous European studies have shown that Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli were the species most frequently responsible for ESBL secretion [3], especially K. pneumoniae, part of the natural intestinal microflora, but regarded as an opportunistic pathogen [4,5]. Klebsiella pneumoniae, belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, is a common opportunistic hospital-associated pathogen, accounting for about one-third of all Gram infections overall. It is involved in extra-intestinal infections including urinary tract infections, cystitis, pneumoniae, surgical wound infections, and life-threatening infections such as endocarditis and septicemia. Data retrieved from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (http://atlas.ecdc.europa.eu/public/index.aspx?Instance=GeneralAtlas accessed on 1 May 2021) for the years 2005–2015 show non-susceptible rates for K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli against the four major antibiotic classes, namely the third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems
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