Antibiotic in myrrh from Commiphora molmol preferentially kills nongrowing bacteria

Abstract

Aim: To demonstrate that myrrh oil preferentially kills nongrowing bacteria and causes no resistance development. Method: Growth inhibition was determined on regular plates or plates without nutrients, which were later overlaid with soft agar containing nutrients to continue growth. Killing experiments were done in broth and in buffer without nutrients. Results: Bacterial cells were inhibited preferentially in the absence of nutrients or when growth was halted by a bacteriostatic antibiotic. After five passages in myrrh oil, surviving colonies showed no resistance to the antibiotic. Conclusion: Myrrh oil has the potential to be a commercially viable antibiotic that kills persister cells and causes no resistance development. This is a rare example of an antibiotic that can preferentially kill nongrowing bacteria. Lay abstract Myrrh resin has been used for centuries in many cultures for its medicinal properties and has also found its place in most religions. However, due to incorrect testing methods, the antibiotic property of myrrh has been found to be very weak. We report here that myrrh has a strong and unique antibiotic activity preferentially against nongrowing bacteria, a property not found in any commercially available antibiotic. This unique property, along with its low toxicity and less tendency of antibiotic resistance development, suggests that myrrh can be developed to be a promising and ideal antibiotic with lower dosage requirements.