Combined effect of essential oils from Clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and Lemon peel (Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck) on anti-bacterial, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities

Subject Areas : Medicinal and Herbal Plants

Walid Yeddes ¹ (Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Borj Cedria Biotechnology Center, BP901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia|Faculty of Science of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna7021, Tunisia)
Islem Mejri ² (Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Borj Cedria Biotechnology Center, BP901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia)
Taycir Grati Affes ³ (Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Borj Cedria Biotechnology Center, BP901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia)
Saber Khammassi ⁴ (Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Borj Cedria Biotechnology Center, BP901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia)
Majdi Hammami ⁵ (Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Borj Cedria Biotechnology Center, BP901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia)
Wissem Aidi-Wannes ⁶ (Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Borj Cedria Biotechnology Center, BP901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia)
Moufida Saidani Tounsi ⁷ (Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Borj Cedria Biotechnology Center, BP901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia)

Received: 2022-01-11 Accepted : 2022-03-01 Published : 2022-05-01

Keywords: Anti-inflamatory activity, Essential oils, Clove (<i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry), Antibacterial activity, Lemon peel ( <i>Citrus limon</i> (L.) Osbeck), Combined application, Thyme ( <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> L.),

Abstract :

Essential oils are natural products composed of a mixture of volatile and aromatic compounds extracted from different organs of plants that have been widely studied for their antibacterial activities against pathogens. In this study, clove, lemon peel and thyme essential oils and their mixture were assessed for their antimicrobial activities using a panel of pathogenic Gram-positive, and Gram-negative, strains. Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity were also evaluated. Lemon peel essential oil was characterized by the predominance of limonene. Eugenol was the main component in clove essential oil and thymol in thyme essential oil. Clove, lemon peel and thyme essential oils and their combination had potent antibacterial, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. This study demonstrates that the use of essential oils is an effective alternative for pathogenic bacterial control, alone or in combination with antibiotic therapy.

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