ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF CARAWAY ESSENTIAL OIL AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS WITH FURUNCULOSIS

Abstract

Furunculosis is a common skin disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Infection is characterized by a deep inflammation of the hair follicle. It leads to abscess formation with accumulation of pus and necrotic tissue. Treatment with antibiotics is often ineffective and patients often suffer from recurrent episodes. The aim of the study was to determine the antibacterial activity of caraway essential oil (CEO) against S. aureus isolated from patients with furunculosis. S. aureus strains were characterized by a different virulence factors and resistance to antibiotics. Effect of CEO was evaluated against 15 strains of S. aureus isolated from patients and against 3 control strains. The susceptibility to antibiotics was determined using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The presence of genes encoding virulence factors was determined with PCR method. The presence of slime was examined with Congo red method. The composition of the CEO was evaluated by gas chromatography method with mass selective detector. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CEO was determined by serial dilutions in tryptic soy broth containing 10% NaCl. Analysis of the oil composition showed that the predominant component was cuminaldehyde (46.7%). CEO showed inhibition activity against control strains and patients strains. The MIC values of essential oil ranged from 10 to 12 µL/mL and from 7 to 67 µL/mL, respectively. Lack of correlation between the antibiotic resistance of the bacterial strains, presence of genes, presence of slime and their sensitivity to essential oil was found. CEO can be used as alternative antibacterial agent in supportive treatment patients with furunculosis.