Helichrysum italicum extract interferes with the production of enterotoxins by Staphylococcus aureus.

AIMS

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of Helichrysum italicum extract on enterotoxin (A-D) production by Staphylococcus aureus strains.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The production of enterotoxins A-D in the presence or absence of H.italicum diethyl ether extract was estimated in microtiter plates using a reversed passive latex agglutination (SET-RPLA) kit (Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK). The results indicate that, in culture medium, inhibition of staphylococcal growth and enterotoxins appeared with 250-125 microg ml(-1) of the extract. Lower concentrations of the extract (62.5-31.25 microg ml(-1)) did not affect the final viable count of Staph. aureus but reduced the production of enterotoxins B and C.

CONCLUSIONS

H. italicum interferes with growth and production of enterotoxins by Staph. aureus.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

There is considerable interest in the use of natural compounds as alternative methods to control undesirable pathogenic micro-organisms.