Potent Anti-Cutibacterium acnes Activity of the Essential Oils Derived from Allium sativum, Gerdenia jasminoides, and Hedychium coronarium Cultivated in Thailand

Abstract

Plant oils derived from medicinal herbs have furnished bioactive synergistics, as well as antibacterial and antifungal properties. The study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of essential oils (EOs) against Cutibacterium acnes and to analyze the chemical compositions of the effective oils. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with duplications. Three EOs obtained from Allium sativum (garlic), Gardenia jasminoides (gardenia), and Hedychium coronarium (hydechium) cultivated in Thailand were tested for antibacterial activity using an agar well diffusion assay and the macro-dilution method. The chemical compositions of the selected oil were determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To compare the data, Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) was performed, and significance was determined at the p < 0.05 level. The results showed that garlic oil had the highest potent inhibitory zone on C. acnes, according to the findings. As a bactericidal, garlic oil had MIC and MBC values of 0.39 and 0.78 mg/mL, and even a MIC index (MBC/MIC) of 4. Diallyl thiosulfinate (allicin) (20.53%), 1,3-dithiane (12.53%), cyclic octaatomic sulfur (5.02%), 1,4-dihydro-2,3-benzoxathiin-3-oxide (4.73%), and carvone (3.40%) were the major components of garlic oil. The results suggest that garlic oil might be used to develop topical anti-acne treatments.