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. 2016 Jul 28;3(3):19. doi: 10.3390/medicines3030019

Table 5.

Essential oils and volatile compounds modulating the antibiotic activity against other Gram-negative bacteria.

Essential Oil/Volatile Compound Vegetal Source Major Constituent Other Gram-negative Bacteria Antibiotic Method Effect Ref.
Enterobacter aerogenes
Strain
Thyme EO Thymi herba (Thymus maroccanus L., Lamiaceae, Za’ater/Azukeni) Carvacrol (76.35%) ATCC 13048 Chloramphenicol FR (4-fold reduction in MIC) S [52]
EA27clinical isolate FR (8-fold reduction in MIC)
Thyme EO Thymi herba (Thymus broussonetii L., Lamiaceae, Za’atar Essaouiri) Carvacrol (39.77%)
Borneol (12.03%)
ATCC 13048 FR (4-fold reduction in MIC)
EA27clinical isolate FR (8-fold reduction in MIC)
Immortelle EO Helichrysi flos (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don, Asteraceae, Immortelle) - ATCC 13048 Chloramphenicol FR (2-fold reduction in MIC) S [37]
EAEP289 Chloramphenicol FR (8-fold reduction in MIC)
Ampicillin FR (–) I
Penicillin FR (–)
Norfloxacin FR (2-fold reduction in MIC) S
EAEP294 Chloramphenicol FR (128-fold reduction in MIC )
Ampicillin FR (~7300-fold reduction in MIC)
Penicillin FR (~14600-fold reduction in MIC)
Norfloxacin FR (~914-fold reduction in MIC)
Eugenol - NCIM 5139 Ampicillin CB (FICI < 0.50) S [115]
Penicillin
Oxacillin
Erythromycin
Norfloxacin
Chloramphenicol
Polymyxin B
Tetracycline
Vancomycin
Rifampin
Enterobacter cloacae
Strain
Thyme EO Thymi herba (Thymus maroccanus L. Lamiaceae, Za’ater/Azukeni) Carvacrol (76.35%) Clinical isolate Ciprofloxacin CB (FICI = 0.37) S [57]
Gentamicin CB (FICI = 0.19)
Pristinamycin CB (FICI = 0.50)
Cefixime CB (FICI = 1.00) I
Thyme EO Thymi herba (Thymus broussonetii L. Lamiaceae, Za’atar Essaouiri) Carvacrol (39.77%)
Borneol (12.03%)
Ciprofloxacin CB (FICI = 0.50) S
Gentamicin CB (FICI = 0.50)
Pristinamycin CB (FICI = 0.50)
Cefixime CB (FICI = 1.00) I
Alecrim pimento EO Lippiae folium (Lippia sidoides Cham. Verbenaceae, Alecrim pimento) Thymol (84.9%) ATCC 23355 Gentamicin FR (–) I [102]
Neomycin
Penicillin G
Ceftriaxone
Thymol - ATCC 23355 Gentamicin FR (–) I
Neomycin
Penicillin G
Ceftriaxone
Proteus vulgaris
Strain
α-Bisabolol Candeeiro EO
Candeeiro stem Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker. Asteraceae
- ATCC 13315 Gentamycin IZGC (+4%) I [108]
Tetracycline IZGC (−51.72%) A
Tobramycin IZGC (−53%) A
Eugenol - NCIM 2813 Ampicillin CB (FICI < 0.50) S [115]
Penicillin
Oxacillin
Erythromycin
Norfloxacin
Chloramphenicol
Polymyxin B
Tetracycline
Vancomycin
Rifampin
Salmonella typhimurium
Strain
Thyme EO Thymi herba (Thymus maroccanus L., Lamiaceae, Za’ater/Azukeni) Carvacrol (76.35%) Clinical isolate Ciprofloxacin CB (FICI = 0.37) S [57]
Gentamicin CB (FICI = 0.75) PS
Pristinamycin CB (FICI = 0.75)
Cefixime CB (FICI = 0.18) S
Thyme EO Thymi herba (Thymus broussonetii L., Lamiaceae, Za’atar Essaouiri) Carvacrol (39.77%)
Borneol (12.03%)
Ciprofloxacin CB (FICI = 0.56) PS
Gentamicin CB (FICI = 0.62)
Pristinamycin CB (FICI = 0.50) S
Cefixime CB (FICI = 0.18)
Carvacrol - Clinical isolate Nalidixic acid CB (FICI = 0.31) S [124]
SGI1 Ampicillin CB (FICI = 0.25) [66]
Penicillin CB (FICI = 0.37)
Tetracycline CB (FICI = 0.18)
Erythromycin CB (FICI = 0.25)
Bacitracin CB (FICI = 0.25)
Novobiocin CB (FICI = 0.37)
Eugenol - SGI1 Ampicillin CB (FICI > 0.5) I
Penicillin CB (FICI > 0.5)
Tetracycline CB (FICI = 0.22) S
Erythromycin CB (FICI = 0.63) I
Bacitracin CB (FICI > 0.5)
Novobiocin CB (FICI = 0.40) S
Eugenol - NCIM 2501 Ampicillin CB (FICI < 0.50) S [115]
Penicillin
Oxacillin
Erythromycin
Norfloxacin
Chloramphenicol
Polymyxin B
Tetracycline
Vancomycin
Rifampin
Thymol - SGI1 Ampicillin CB (FICI = 0.12) S [66]
Penicillin CB (FICI = 0.13)
Tetracycline CB (FICI = 0.10)
Erythromycin CB (FICI = 0.25)
Bacitracin CB (FICI = 0.15)
Novobiocin CB (FICI = 0.37)
Cinnamaldehyde - SGI1 Ampicillin CB (FICI = 0.25) S
Penicillin CB (FICI = 0.63) I
Tetracycline CB (FICI = 0.37)
Erythromycin CB (FICI = 0.24)
Bacitracin CB (FICI = 0.24)
Novobiocin CB (FICI = 0.24)
Allyl isothiocyanate - SGI1 Ampicillin CB (FICI = 0.35) S [66]
Penicillin CB (FICI = 0.63) I
Tetracycline CB (FICI = 0.73)
Erythromycin CB (FICI = 0.48) S
Bacitracin CB (FICI = 0.50)
Novobiocin CB (FICI = 1.00) I

A: antagonism; I: indifference; PS: partial synergy; S: synergy; CB: checkerboard assay; FICI: fractional inhibitory concentration index; FR: fold reduction in MIC; MIC: minimum inhibitory concentration; IZGC (%): percentage change in inhibition zone diameter due to gaseous contact with essential oil/volatile component.