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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372039
Research Project: Pre-and Postharvest Treatment of Tropical Commodities to Improve Quality and Increase Trade Through Quarantine Security

Location: Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research

Title: Potential synergistic antimicrobial efficiency of binary combinations of essential oils against Bacillus cereus and Paenibacillus amylolyticus-Part A

Author
item AYARI, S - Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique (INRS)
item SHANKAR, S - Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique (INRS)
item Follett, Peter
item HOSSAIN, F - Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique (INRS)
item LACROIX, M - Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique (INRS)

Submitted to: Microbial Pathogenesis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2020
Publication Date: 1/25/2020
Citation: Ayari, S., Shankar, S., Follett, P.A., Hossain, F., Lacroix, M. 2020. Potential synergistic antimicrobial efficiency of binary combinations of essential oils against Bacillus cereus and Paenibacillus amylolyticus-Part A. Microbial Pathogenesis. 141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104008

Interpretive Summary: Plant essential oils vapor can have microbicidal effects. Potential interaction was tested between Basil, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Mandarin, Oregano, Peppermint, Tea tree, and Thyme when used as antibacterial agents against Bacillus cereus LSPQ 2872 and Paenibacillus amylolyticus ATCC 9995. Some combinations showed and additive effect while other showed a synergistic effect. The combination of Oregano/Thyme EOs displayed the best antibacterial activity and showed a synergistic effect against B. cereus and P. amylolyticus bacteria.

Technical Abstract: The checkerboard method was used to study the potential interactions between eight essential oils (Basil, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Mandarin, Oregano, Peppermint, Tea tree, and Thyme) when used as antibacterial agents against Bacillus cereus LSPQ 2872 and Paenibacillus amylolyticus ATCC 9995. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each essential oil (EO) and the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index for the binary combinations of essential oils (EOs) were determined. According to FIC index values, some of the compound binary combinations showed an additive effect; however, Thyme/Tea tree and Cinnamon/Thyme EOs exhibited a synergistic effect against P. amylolyticus and B. cereus, respectively. Cinnamon/Thyme EOs mixture exhibited no interactive effect against P. amylolyticus, but a synergistic effect against B. cereus. The combination of Oregano/Thyme EOs displayed the best antibacterial activity and showed a synergistic effect against B. cereus and P. amylolyticus bacteria. The Oregano/Thyme EOs mixture has potential application in food preservation to reduce the contamination of B. cereus and P. amylolyticus.