Antibacterial activity of commercially available plant-derived essential oils against oral pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

<p>This work investigated the antibacterial activity of 15 commercially available plant-derived essential oils (EOs) against a panel of oral pathogens. The broth microdilution method afforded the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of the assayed EOs. The EO obtained from <i>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</i> (Lauraceae) (CZ-EO) displayed moderate activity against <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> (MIC and MBC = 125 μg/mL), <i>Actinomyces naeslundii</i> (MIC and MBC = 125 μg/mL), <i>Prevotella nigrescens</i> (MIC and MBC = 125 μg/mL) and <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> (MIC = 200 μg/mL; MBC = 400 μg/mL). (<i>Z</i>)-isosafrole (85.3%) was the main chemical component of this oil. We did not detect cinnamaldehyde, previously described as the major constituent of CZ-EO, in specimens collected in other countries.</p