Antimicrobial Activity and the Synergy Potential of <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees and <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry Essential Oils with Antimicrobial Drugs
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global challenge, rendering many standard treatments ineffective. Essential oils (EOs) of cinnamon (<i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees) and clove (<i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry) may offer an alternative solution due to the...
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| author | Soraia El Baz Bouchra Soulaimani Imane Abbad Zineb Azgaou El Mostapha Lotfi Mustapha Malha Noureddine Mezrioui |
| author_facet | Soraia El Baz Bouchra Soulaimani Imane Abbad Zineb Azgaou El Mostapha Lotfi Mustapha Malha Noureddine Mezrioui |
| author_sort | Soraia El Baz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global challenge, rendering many standard treatments ineffective. Essential oils (EOs) of cinnamon (<i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees) and clove (<i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry) may offer an alternative solution due to their high antimicrobial properties and their abilities to fight resistant pathogens. This study evaluates the antimicrobial activity of these two EOs, and their synergistic potential when combined with two antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and vancomycin) and two antifungals (fluconazole and amphotericin B) against various bacterial and yeasts strains. The antimicrobial activities of each EO were evaluated by agar diffusion and broth microdilution assays, while the synergetic effects with antimicrobials were determined by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) using the checkerboard method. The chemical composition of the EOs was analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The identification of individual components in the EOs was achieved by comparing their mass spectra with the NIST MS Search database and by correlating their retention times with those of known standards. GC-MS analysis revealed that the main constituents of <i>S. aromaticum</i> EO were eugenol (71.49%) and β-caryophyllene (23.43%), while <i>C. aromaticum</i> EO were dominated by cinnamaldehyde (47,04%) and cinnamyl acetate (18.93%). Antimicrobial activity showed that cinnamon EO exhibits highest effectiveness against all tested strains, with inhibition zones (IZ) ranging from 16.99 mm to 53.16 mm, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentrations (MMC) ranging from 0.039 mg/mL to 0.156 mg/mL. However, for clove EO, the IZ ranged from 9.31 mm to 29.91 mm, with MIC and MMC values from 0.313 mg/mL to 1.25 mg/mL. In combination with antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and vancomycin), the studied EOs showed promising synergistic effects with reduction up to 128-fold. As regards antifungals (amphotericin B, and fluconazole), the synergistic effects were recorded with MIC gains up to 32-fold. Our findings demonstrate that the EOs from <i>C. aromaticum</i> and <i>S. aromaticum</i> exhibit significant broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against diverse yeast and bacterial strains. This highlights their potential as bases for the development of novel plant-based antimicrobial agents. Importantly, the observed synergistic effects of these EOs with conventional antibiotics support their integration into medical treatments as a strategy to address microbial resistance. Future research should aim to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these synergistic actions, optimize their application, and enhance their therapeutic efficacy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-df534a63ee49464584f6aa649c0965ee |
| institution | DOAJ |
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| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-df534a63ee49464584f6aa649c0965ee2025-08-20T02:42:27ZengMDPI AGMicrobiology Research2036-74812025-03-011636310.3390/microbiolres16030063Antimicrobial Activity and the Synergy Potential of <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees and <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry Essential Oils with Antimicrobial DrugsSoraia El Baz0Bouchra Soulaimani1Imane Abbad2Zineb Azgaou3El Mostapha Lotfi4Mustapha Malha5Noureddine Mezrioui6Laboratory of Water Sciences, Microbial Biotechnologies, and Natural Resources Sustainability (AQUABIOTECH), Unit of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences, and Environment (BIOMAGE)-CNRST Labeled Research Unit N°4, Faculty of Sciences-Semlalia, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoLaboratory of Water Sciences, Microbial Biotechnologies, and Natural Resources Sustainability (AQUABIOTECH), Unit of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences, and Environment (BIOMAGE)-CNRST Labeled Research Unit N°4, Faculty of Sciences-Semlalia, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoLaboratory of Water Sciences, Microbial Biotechnologies, and Natural Resources Sustainability (AQUABIOTECH), Unit of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences, and Environment (BIOMAGE)-CNRST Labeled Research Unit N°4, Faculty of Sciences-Semlalia, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoLaboratory of Water Sciences, Microbial Biotechnologies, and Natural Resources Sustainability (AQUABIOTECH), Unit of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences, and Environment (BIOMAGE)-CNRST Labeled Research Unit N°4, Faculty of Sciences-Semlalia, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoLaboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Environmental Materials Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10000, MoroccoLaboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Environmental Materials Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10000, MoroccoLaboratory of Water Sciences, Microbial Biotechnologies, and Natural Resources Sustainability (AQUABIOTECH), Unit of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences, and Environment (BIOMAGE)-CNRST Labeled Research Unit N°4, Faculty of Sciences-Semlalia, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoAntimicrobial resistance is a growing global challenge, rendering many standard treatments ineffective. Essential oils (EOs) of cinnamon (<i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees) and clove (<i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry) may offer an alternative solution due to their high antimicrobial properties and their abilities to fight resistant pathogens. This study evaluates the antimicrobial activity of these two EOs, and their synergistic potential when combined with two antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and vancomycin) and two antifungals (fluconazole and amphotericin B) against various bacterial and yeasts strains. The antimicrobial activities of each EO were evaluated by agar diffusion and broth microdilution assays, while the synergetic effects with antimicrobials were determined by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) using the checkerboard method. The chemical composition of the EOs was analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The identification of individual components in the EOs was achieved by comparing their mass spectra with the NIST MS Search database and by correlating their retention times with those of known standards. GC-MS analysis revealed that the main constituents of <i>S. aromaticum</i> EO were eugenol (71.49%) and β-caryophyllene (23.43%), while <i>C. aromaticum</i> EO were dominated by cinnamaldehyde (47,04%) and cinnamyl acetate (18.93%). Antimicrobial activity showed that cinnamon EO exhibits highest effectiveness against all tested strains, with inhibition zones (IZ) ranging from 16.99 mm to 53.16 mm, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentrations (MMC) ranging from 0.039 mg/mL to 0.156 mg/mL. However, for clove EO, the IZ ranged from 9.31 mm to 29.91 mm, with MIC and MMC values from 0.313 mg/mL to 1.25 mg/mL. In combination with antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and vancomycin), the studied EOs showed promising synergistic effects with reduction up to 128-fold. As regards antifungals (amphotericin B, and fluconazole), the synergistic effects were recorded with MIC gains up to 32-fold. Our findings demonstrate that the EOs from <i>C. aromaticum</i> and <i>S. aromaticum</i> exhibit significant broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against diverse yeast and bacterial strains. This highlights their potential as bases for the development of novel plant-based antimicrobial agents. Importantly, the observed synergistic effects of these EOs with conventional antibiotics support their integration into medical treatments as a strategy to address microbial resistance. Future research should aim to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these synergistic actions, optimize their application, and enhance their therapeutic efficacy.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/3/63essential oils<i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i><i>Syzygium aromaticum</i>antimicrobial activitysynergy |
| spellingShingle | Soraia El Baz Bouchra Soulaimani Imane Abbad Zineb Azgaou El Mostapha Lotfi Mustapha Malha Noureddine Mezrioui Antimicrobial Activity and the Synergy Potential of <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees and <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry Essential Oils with Antimicrobial Drugs Microbiology Research essential oils <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> antimicrobial activity synergy |
| title | Antimicrobial Activity and the Synergy Potential of <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees and <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry Essential Oils with Antimicrobial Drugs |
| title_full | Antimicrobial Activity and the Synergy Potential of <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees and <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry Essential Oils with Antimicrobial Drugs |
| title_fullStr | Antimicrobial Activity and the Synergy Potential of <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees and <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry Essential Oils with Antimicrobial Drugs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antimicrobial Activity and the Synergy Potential of <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees and <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry Essential Oils with Antimicrobial Drugs |
| title_short | Antimicrobial Activity and the Synergy Potential of <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> Nees and <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (L.) Merr. et Perry Essential Oils with Antimicrobial Drugs |
| title_sort | antimicrobial activity and the synergy potential of i cinnamomum aromaticum i nees and i syzygium aromaticum i l merr et perry essential oils with antimicrobial drugs |
| topic | essential oils <i>Cinnamomum aromaticum</i> <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> antimicrobial activity synergy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/3/63 |
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