The effect of fennel essential oil and -anethole on antibacterial activity of mupirocin against isolated from asymptomatic carriers.

INTRODUCTION

constitutes the most pathogenic species within the staphylococcal genus. Humans remain the major reservoirs of this pathogen which colonizes mostly anterior nares of healthy individuals.

AIM

To investigate the effect of fennel essential oil (FEO) and -anethole (A) on antibacterial activity of mupirocin (MUP) against strains isolated from asymptomatic carriers.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The content of the FEO was analysed with use of the GC-MS method. The research done on 43 isolates with different resistance patterns, obtained from nasal vestibule. Antibacterial activity of MUP in combination with FEO or A was examined using the agar dilution method and E-test method. The data analysis was done with the Pearson's χ test.

RESULTS

The chemical composition of FEO was consistent with the European Pharmacopoeia (EP) for the main constituent - A (77.9%) according to the EP recommendations. Macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance phenotype was prevalent among 39.5% of isolates. FEO concentrations of 2.0% and 2.5% revealed antibacterial activity against 76.7% of isolates, whereas A inhibited growth at concentrations > 4.0%. The MIC values for MUP combined with FEO as well as for MUP combined with A were < 0.064 µg/ml for 79.1% and 86.0% of isolates, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experiment revealed FEO and A influence on MUP effectiveness. The combination of MUP with FEO as well as MUP with A are worth considering to implement in eradication procedures. These findings will be useful in designing efficient antistaphylococcal agents which can limit the emergence of antibiotic resistance.