Antimycobacterial Effect and Mechanisms of Monoterpenoid, Perillyl Alcohol

Abstract

SOJ Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Open Access Research Article studied against MTB and other Mycobacterium species including MDR strains which have shown promising potential [7]. Perillyl Alcohol (PA) or p-Mentha-1, 8-diene-7-ol (Figure 1) is a monocyclic monoterpene synthesized by the mevalonate pathway in plants which is stable at room temperature. It is found in the essential oil of various plant species such as cherries, mints, lemon and ginger grass [8]. Recent findings have shown that PA has anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and used in the treatment of neurological complications and lung disorders [9]. PA is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a food additive that can be safely consumed by human displaying its non-toxic nature [10]. Our group has already deciphered the antifungal potential of PA against one of the most prevalent human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans [10]. Currently, there is no published report demonstrating the anti-mycobacterial activity of PA hence the present study aimed to decipher the anti-mycobacterial potential of PA against mycobacterial surrogate model for MTB, Mycobacterium smegmatis. We explored that anti-mycobacterial action of PA is possibly linked to disruption of membrane homeostasis, inhibited biofilm formation and cell adherence and defect in DNA repair response machinery. Materials and Methods All Media chemicals Middlebrook 7H9 broth, Middlebrook 7H10 agar, Albumin/Dextrose/Catalase (ADC), Oleic Acid/ Albumin/Dextrose/Catalase (OADC) supplements was purchased from BD Biosciences (USA).