Surveying the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils from selected medicinal plants against human pathogens

Essential oils (EOs) with different biological activities, such as antibacterial properties, are a valuable resource for developing new drugs.

Ingredients of six medicinally important EOs, including Artemisia dracunculus, Anethum graveolens, Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Zingiber officinale, were identified using GC-MS analysis. Moreover, their five major compounds were also listed. Furthermore, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) against four important human bacteria was also investigated using the 96-well plate microdilution.

C. sinensis EO with IC50 of 1.0 and 4.7 mg.mL-1 have the most effect on the growth of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Moreover, EOs of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (IC50: 1.0 mg. mL-1) and Artemisia dracunculus (IC50: 1.3 mg.mL-1) significantly showed better inhibitory effect on E. coli and K. pneumoniae.

These EOs could be used for developing inexpensive, potent, and green antibacterial agents.