The in-vitro evaluation of antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties of Marrubium vulgare L. essential oil grown in Tunisia

Zied Zarai,Adel Kadri,Ines Ben Chobba,Néji Gharsallah,Hafedh Mejdoub,Ahmed Bekir,Riadh Ben Mansour

doi:10.1186/1476-511x-10-161

Zied Zarai, Adel Kadri + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511x-10-161

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Abstract

BackgroundIn order to validate its antiseptic and anticancer properties with respect to traditional uses, we have screened for the first time the antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of M. vulgare L. essential oil against different pathogenic microorganisms and the cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines.MethodsThe agar disk diffusion method was used to study the antibacterial activity of M. vulgare essential oil against 12 bacterial and 4 fungi strains. The disc diameters of zone of inhibition (DD), the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the concentration inhibiting 50% (IC50) were investigated to characterize the antimicrobial activities of this essential oil. The in vitro cytotoxicity of M. vulgare essential oil was examined using a modified MTT assay; the viability and the IC50 were used to evaluate this test.ResultsThe antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was investigated in order to evaluate its efficacy against the different tested microorganisms. The present results results showed a significant activity against microorganisms especially Gram (+) bacteria with inhibition zones and minimal inhibitory concentration values in the range of 6.6-25.2 mm and 1120-2600 μg/ml, respectively, whereas Gram (-) bacteria exhibited a higher resistance. As far as the antifungal activity, among four strains tested, Botrytis cinerea exhibited the strongest activity with inhibition zones of 12.6 mm. However, Fusarium solani, Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger were less sensitive to M. vulgare essential oil. About the citotoxicity assay, this finding indicate the capability of this essential oil to inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cell lines under some conditions with IC50 value of 0.258 μg/ml.ConclusionThis investigation showed that the M. vulgare essential oil has a potent antimicrobial activity against some Gram (+) pathogenic bacteria and Botrytis cinerea fungi. The present studies confirm the use of this essential oil as anticancer agent. Further research is required to evaluate the practical values of therapeutic applications.

Highlights

In order to validate its antiseptic and anticancer properties with respect to traditional uses, we have screened for the first time the antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of M. vulgare L. essential oil against different pathogenic microorganisms and the cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines
Antimicrobial assays The antimicrobial activities of M. vulgare essential oil against microorganisms examined in the present study and their potency were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed by the presence or absence of inhibition zones and zone diameter (DD), the medium inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values
Bacteria, no antimicrobial activities of essential oil tested against all strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853, Klebsielle pneumoniae WHO24, Escherichia coli 25922 and Salmonella) has been revealed

Summary

Introduction

In order to validate its antiseptic and anticancer properties with respect to traditional uses, we have screened for the first time the antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of M. vulgare L. essential oil against different pathogenic microorganisms and the cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines. A large number of essential (volatile) oils and their constituents have been investigated for their biological activity, notably antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties [12,13,14]. Essential oils and their components are gaining increasing interest as a natural alternative to synthetic drugs [15], against microbial agents because of their relatively safe status wide acceptance by consumers and their exploitation for potential multipurpose functional use. From Czech Republic, the main constituents of M. vulgare essential oil were b-caryophyllene and germacrene D [17]. From different region of Iran, the main constituants of M. vulgare essential tricyclene, b-pinene, bisabolol, b-elemone and isomenthon-8-thiol [18], b-bisabolene, 8-cadinene and isocaryophyllene [19], and bisabolene, b-caryophyllene, germacrene D and E-bfarnesene [20], caryophyllene oxide, b-caryophyllene and germacrene D [21]

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