ESSENTIAL OILS AND METHYLGLYOXAL: A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

Abstract

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Essential oils are of significant interest in today’s world of healthcare because these compounds have a variety of medicinal properties. In this study, we evaluated the <em>in vitro</em> antibiotic role of essential oils as a possible alternative treatment in combatting Methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (MRSA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In conjunction with carrier oils, three essential oils (cassia, cinnamon bark, and thyme), as well as methylglyoxal were tested on MRSA using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The minimum inhibitory concentration of each tested essential oil and methylglyoxal in carrier oil was determined to be 25% essential oil and 75% carrier oil mixture. This concentration worked much more effectively than the standard antibiotic, vancomycin, which is currently used to treat MRSA infections.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Antibacterial emollients made from naturally occurring products like essential oils can be cost-effective alternatives to antibiotics. The results of this research show that these emollients are more effective against MRSA than standard antibiotics in cell culture.</p>