04/23/2019 / By Evangelyn Rodriguez
Essential oils are commonly used today for aromatherapy. It is a form of alternative medicine that is used to treat mild ailments and improve a person’s emotional well-being. Aside from being aromatic, essential oils also contain compounds that possess antimicrobial properties. One such example is carvacrol, a volatile chemical that can be found in oregano, thyme, pepperwort, and wild bergamot. In a study published in the Journal of Essential Oil Research, researchers from Mexico examined the antimicrobial activity of compounds derived from essential oils. They found that carvacrol is particularly potent against a multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii which usually causes hospital-derived infections.
To test their strength against different pathogens, the researchers used gaseous contact assay to determine the minimum inhibitory dose (MID) of the tested compounds. The MID is the lowest concentration of each compound capable of preventing the growth of bacteria. They also isolated different strains of A. baumannii, a nosocomial (hospital-derived) pathogen known to infect people with weak immune systems, from different specimens. They then used microdilution assay to make a profile of the pathogens based on their drug resistance and identified the genes associated with them using a method called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Crystal violet assay, a method for visualizing cells that makes use of a dye to stain DNA, helped them confirm the formation of biofilm, which is proof of surface attachment of microorganism.
When tested against different strains of A. baumannii, carvacrol exhibited high potency with MIDs lower than what it needed to kill other nosocomial MDR pathogens. The three strains of A. baumannii each had very high drug resistance profiles and showed variable biofilm production. These findings suggest that carvacrol may be used clinically to treat illnesses caused by nosocomial MDR bacteria like A. baumannii. (Related: Scientific study reveals Mexican mint essential oil can treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.)
Carvacrol is the most abundant phenol in oregano oil. It is extensively studied due to its wide range of clinical applications. Here are some of the properties that make it very useful.
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Tagged Under: alternative medicine, antibacterial, Antimicrobial, bacteria, bacterial infection, carvacrol, essential oils, food borne pathogens, herbal medicine, Herbs, multi-drug resistant bacteria, natural cures, natural medicine, nosocomial pathogens, remedies, research, superbugs
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