Effects of the chemical composition of essential oils from seven plants used in traditional medicine in Benin on the growth of eleven pathogenic bacteria in antimicrobial control

Abstract

The uncontrolled use of antimicrobials leads to an increase in the resistance of bacteria which becomes a public health problem. To overcome this problem, our study aims to establish a link between chemical composition and antimicrobial activity and then evaluate cytotoxicity, of seven essential oils. Antimicrobial activity of essential oils was assessed by macrodilution and solid-medium diffusion method on agar, then cytotoxicity test was evaluated in vitro by MTT method. Results showed that essential oils of Cymbopogon schoenantus, Cymbopogon giganteus, Cymbopogon citratus and Citrus aurantifolia are the most bactericidal. Analysis of antimicrobial activity and chemical composition reveal that the essential oil of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, the least oxygenated (14.9%), is the least active. The other essential oils, which are more active, are all rich in oxygenated compound (28.4% to 87.0%). The cytotoxicity assessment shows that our essential oils are less cytotoxic than camptothecin.