GC-MS and in vitro antibacterial potential of Cinnamomum camphora essential oil against some clinical antibiotic-resistant bacterial isolates

A.A.H. Mujawah, E.M. Abdallah, S.A. Alshoumar, M.I. Alfarraj, S.M.I. Alajel, A.L. Alharbi, S.A. Alsalman, F.A. Alhumaydhi

Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Arts, Qassim University, Ar Rass, Saudi Arabia. f.alhumaydhi@qu.edu.sa

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• Microbiology
• Phytomedicine

OBJECTIVE: Antibiotic resistance is increasing alarmingly in all parts of the world. Cinnamomum camphora (Linn.) Presl (C. camphora) is one of the earliest herbal remedies still in use today in traditional medicine. This study aimed to analyze the component of C. camphora grown widely in Saudi Arabia (Qassim region) using GC-MS. Also, this study evaluates the in vitro antibacterial properties of C. camphora against certain clinical bacteria obtained from hospitals, including multi-drug resistant pathogens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Leaves of C. camphora tree were collected and essential oil was extracted for this study. The extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis. Eight clinical antibiotic-resistant pathogens were used in this study for the following assays: antibiotics susceptibility assay, determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), determination of minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and MIC index (MBC/MIC).

RESULTS: The results show that the main components of the essential oil (EO) from the leaves of C. camphora were Eucalyptol. The EO had good antibacterial activity against eight clinical antibiotic-resistant pathogens, namely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii (two strains), Klebsiella pneumonia (two strains), Escherichia coli (one strain), Staphylococcus aureus (two strains).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings may lead to a more complete knowledge of this aromatic plant’s antibacterial action against antibiotic-resistant pathogens (in vitro).

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