The in-vitro evaluation of antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties of Marrubium vulgare L. essential oil grown in Tunisia

Abstract

BackgroundIn order to validate its antiseptic and anticancer properties with respect to traditional uses, we have screened for the first time the antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of M. vulgare L. essential oil against different pathogenic microorganisms and the cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines.MethodsThe agar disk diffusion method was used to study the antibacterial activity of M. vulgare essential oil against 12 bacterial and 4 fungi strains. The disc diameters of zone of inhibition (DD), the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the concentration inhibiting 50% (IC50) were investigated to characterize the antimicrobial activities of this essential oil. The in vitro cytotoxicity of M. vulgare essential oil was examined using a modified MTT assay; the viability and the IC50 were used to evaluate this test.ResultsThe antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was investigated in order to evaluate its efficacy against the different tested microorganisms. The present results results showed a significant activity against microorganisms especially Gram (+) bacteria with inhibition zones and minimal inhibitory concentration values in the range of 6.6-25.2 mm and 1120-2600 μg/ml, respectively, whereas Gram (-) bacteria exhibited a higher resistance. As far as the antifungal activity, among four strains tested, Botrytis cinerea exhibited the strongest activity with inhibition zones of 12.6 mm. However, Fusarium solani, Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger were less sensitive to M. vulgare essential oil. About the citotoxicity assay, this finding indicate the capability of this essential oil to inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cell lines under some conditions with IC50 value of 0.258 μg/ml.ConclusionThis investigation showed that the M. vulgare essential oil has a potent antimicrobial activity against some Gram (+) pathogenic bacteria and Botrytis cinerea fungi. The present studies confirm the use of this essential oil as anticancer agent. Further research is required to evaluate the practical values of therapeutic applications.

Antiproliferative Activity of Marrubium persicum Extract in the MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

“…Species of this genus are characterized through having potential therapeutic activities, which have been supported by various studies demonstrating cytotoxicity, immunomodulating, vasorelaxant, antispasmodic, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and analgesic properties of this genus (El Bardai et al, 2001;Meyre-Silva et al, 2005;Berrougui et al, 2006;Karioti et al, 2007;Rigano et al, 2009;Boudjelal et al, 2011). Additionally, studies dealing with the composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oils extracted from genus Marrubium have been previously reported (Nagy and Svajdlenka, 1998;Demirci et al, 2004;Javidnia et al, 2007;Morteza-Semnani et al, 2008;Sarikurkcu et al, 2008;Tajbakhsh et al, 2008;Laouer et al, 2009;Petrovic et al, 2009;Argyropoulou and Skaltsa, 2011;Zarai et al, 2011). Regarding the phytochemical analysis of the plants of this genus, they mostly produce diterpenes, polyphenols, steroids, phenylpropanoids and flavonoids, some of which have important biological properties (Calis et al, 1992;Karioti et al, 2003;Rigano et al, 2006;Alkhatib et al, 2010;Zaabat et al, 2011).…”

Molluscicidal and Mosquitocidal Activities of the Essential oils of Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link. and Marrubium vulgare L.

“…These findings are in accordance with other studies that mentioned sesquiterpenes as promising skin penetration enhancers with specific P-glycoprotein modulators that can reverse cellular multidrug resistance by inhibiting the drug efflux process 26,34 . Other studies also stated that antimicrobial properties of essential oils from M. vulgare are associated with their high contents of oxygenated compounds (46.21%) 41 . Researchers also reported mono and sesquiterpenoids as the major components of essential oils which are phenolic in nature 40 .…”

Marrubium vulgare L.: A review on phytochemical and pharmacological aspects

“…In vitro cytotoxic assay of essential oils, against HeLa cell lines, was examined using a modified MTT assay [110]. The results obtained displayed the competence of essential oil to inhibit proliferation of HeLa cell lines under specific conditions with IC 50 value of 0.258 µg/ml.…”

“…In the cell viability assay, M. vulgare essential oil caused non-viability of 27% HeLa cells in a concentration of 250 µg/ml, and all cells were destroyed with concentrations higher than 500 µg/ml. The volatile oil produces the significant cytotoxic effect with IC 5 0 as 0.258 µg/ml toward the human tumor cell line [110].…”

“…In another tryout, antibacterial effect of M. vulgare essential oil against 12 bacterial and 4 fungi strains was studied by agar disk diffusion method [110]. The zone of inhibition (ZI), MIC, and concentrations inhibiting 50% of microbial growth (IC 50 ) were investigated to characterize the antimicrobial activities of essential oil.…”