Antibacterial activity and mode of action of β-caryophyllene on Bacillus cereus. - GreenMedInfo Summary

: Natural products such as essential oils (EOs) are secondary metabolites that can be obtained from either plant or animal sources or produced by microorganisms. Much attention has been given to exploring the use of secondary metabolites as natural antibacterial agents. This study investigates the antibacterial activity and mechanism ofβ-caryophyllene, a compound that can be found in various EOs, against. The minimum inhibitory concentration ofβ-caryophyllene againstwas 2.5% (v/v), whereas killing kinetics ofβ-caryophyllene at minimum inhibitory concentration recorded complete bactericidal activity within 2 hours. Zeta-potential measurement in the cells treated with half the minimum inhibitory concentration of β-caryophyllene at 1.25% (v/v) showed an increase in the membrane permeability surface charge to -3.98 mV, compared to untreated cells (-5.46 mV). Intracellular contents leakage of UV-absorbing materials was detected in the cells treated with β-caryophyllene. Additionally, β-caryophyllene does not interfere with the efflux activity ofvia the ethidium bromide influx/efflux activity. The results revealed thatβ-caryophyllene was able to alter membrane permeability and integrity of, leading to membrane damage and intracellular content leakage, which eventually caused cell death.

: Natural products such as essential oils (EOs) are secondary metabolites that can be obtained from either plant or animal sources or produced by microorganisms. Much attention has been given to exploring the use of secondary metabolites as natural antibacterial agents. This study investigates the antibacterial activity and mechanism ofβ-caryophyllene, a compound that can be found in various EOs, against. The minimum inhibitory concentration ofβ-caryophyllene againstwas 2.5% (v/v), whereas killing kinetics ofβ-caryophyllene at minimum inhibitory concentration recorded complete bactericidal activity within 2 hours. Zeta-potential measurement in the cells treated with half the minimum inhibitory concentration of β-caryophyllene at 1.25% (v/v) showed an increase in the membrane permeability surface charge to –3.98 mV, compared to untreated cells (–5.46 mV). Intracellular contents leakage of UV-absorbing materials was detected in the cells treated with β-caryophyllene. Additionally, β-caryophyllene does not interfere with the efflux activity ofvia the ethidium bromide influx/efflux activity. The results revealed thatβ-caryophyllene was able to alter membrane permeability and integrity of, leading to membrane damage and intracellular content leakage, which eventually caused cell death.