Biological activity of essential oils against staphylococcus spp. Isolated from human semen

Abstract

The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of 5 commercial plant essential oils (Citrus paradisi peel oil, Citrus reticulata peel oil, Juniperus communis fruit oil, Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, and Cananga odorata flower) were determined. Essential oil samples were analysed by GC-FID chromatography (Agilent 6890N). Furthermore, the plant essential oils were tested using antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity test against 19 species of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from human semen and identified with MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper. Antioxidant activities test using DPPH method revealed that Cannaga odorata had the higher antioxidant activity and the essential oil showed a positive effect. This activity is probably due the high content of benzyl benzoate and caryophyllene, which are the dominant compounds in this kind of oil. The lowest antioxidant activity was found for Juniperus communis essential oil. Antimicrobial activities showed that all tested essential oils inhibited the growth of 19 staphylococci studied. However, C. paradise, C. reticulata, J. communis and C. odorata had the best antimicrobial effect against S. hominis, whereas E. globulus essential oil has the best antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and S. capiti.