Zingiber officinale Roscoe essential oil: An alternative strategy in the development of novel antimicrobial agents against MDR bacteria

• Published in: Industrial crops and products 2022-10, Vol.185, p.115065, Article 115065
• Main Authors: Vaz, Marcia Soares Mattos, Simionatto, Euclésio, de Almeida de Souza, Gleyce Hellen, Fraga, Thiago Leite, de Oliveira, Gustavo Gomes, Coutinho, Eduardo João, Oliveira dos Santos, Maiara Viviane, Simionatto, Simone
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales; Gram-negative bacterium; Multi-drug resistant bacteria; Polymyxin resistance; Secondary metabolites
• ISSN: 0926-6690; 1872-633X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.115065

Essential oils (EOs) are synthesized by plants during secondary metabolism and contain volatile chemical compounds with potential antibacterial activity against different pathogens. Thus, exploring the antimicrobial activity of EOs is an attractive therapeutic strategy to treat serious diseases. In this study, the properties of Zingiber officinale EO, including the chemical composition, acute toxicity, as well as in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial effects were evaluated. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS) analyses revealed the presence of the following major phytocomponents: geranial (15.8%), neral (13.5%), 1.8-cineole (8.8%), camphene (6.6%), β-phellandrene (5.9%), and α-curcumene (3.7%). In vitro, Z. officinale EO exhibited antibacterial activity against 18 MDR Gram-negative bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 0.28 mg/mL to 1.09 mg/mL. Cell death was observed after 8 h of incubation by evaluating the decrease in viable cell counts for all the bacteria assessed. The integrity of the bacterial cell membrane was monitored, and protein leakage was observed with increasing concentrations of Z. officinale EO. Further in vivo (based on animal sepsis model) analyses revealed the antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, without detectable acute toxicity. Thus, Z. officinale EO exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against MDR Gram-negative bacteria, thereby making it a promising natural antimicrobial agent. [Display omitted] •Zingiber officinale exhibited in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria.•Reduction in bacterial load in blood and peritoneal fluids were observed in mice treated with Zingiber officinale.•No lethality or any sign of acute toxicity of Zingiber officinale were observed in vivo.