Evaluation of Essential Oils and Extracts of Rose Geranium and Rose Petals as Natural Preservatives in Terms of Toxicity, Antimicrobial, and Antiviral Activity

Chrysa Androutsopoulou,Apostolos Vantarakis,Spyridoula D. Christopoulou,Fotini N. Lamari,Panagiotis Hahalis,Chrysoula Kotsalou

doi:10.3390/pathogens10040494

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) and extracts of rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) and petals of rose (Rosa damascena) have been fully characterized in terms of composition, safety, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. They were analyzed against Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, and Adenovirus 35. Their toxicity and life span were also determined. EO of P. graveolens (5%) did not retain any antibacterial activity (whereas at 100% it was greatly effective against E. coli), had antifungal activity against A. niger, and significant antiviral activity. Rose geranium extract (dilutions 25−90%) (v/v) had antifungal and antibacterial activity, especially against E. coli, and dose-dependent antiviral activity. Rose petals EO (5%) retains low inhibitory activity against S. aureus and S. Typhimurium growth (about 20−30%), antifungal activity, and antiviral activity for medium to low virus concentrations. Rose petals extract had significant antibacterial activity at dilutions of 25−90%, especially against E. coli and S. Typhimurium, antifungal, and the most potent antiviral activity. None of the EOs and extracts were toxic in dilutions of up to 5% and 90%, respectively. Finally, all materials had a life span of more than eight weeks. These results support the aspect that rose petals and rose geranium EOs, and extracts, have beneficial antimicrobial and antiviral properties and they can be used as natural preservatives.

Highlights

Medicinal Aromatic Plants (M.A.P.) are a major part of the natural flora and considered an important resource in various fields, for instance the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, fragrance, and perfumery industries [1]
Fresh geranium leaves were dried for 8 h and 0.2 kg of plant material were extracted for 30 days, at a temperature of 22−27 ◦C, in 40 L of 38% v/v aqueous ethanol
The chemical analysis of the metabolites of Essential oils (EOs) and extracts is presented in the Tables 1–3

Summary

Introduction

Medicinal Aromatic Plants (M.A.P.) are a major part of the natural flora and considered an important resource in various fields, for instance the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, fragrance, and perfumery industries [1]. Natural Aromatic Chemicals are in great demand in different fields such as cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, and perfumes. Plant chemical compounds constitute an alternative to their maintenance [5,6]. EOs and extracts have been used for their aroma, taste, medicinal properties, and as bactericides and preservatives [7]. EOs and extracts are a safe, environmentally friendly, cost-effective choice for nutrition and environmental protection. EOs and extracts have gained their role as preservatives due to certain chemical compounds they contain, such as terpenes, terpenoids, carotenoids, and phenolics [8,9]. Many EOs and extracts have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiseptic features [10,11,12]

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