Antibacterial Properties of Essential Oils
Introduction
Bacterial resistance is an increasing effect experience in clinical settings during the treatment of infectious diseases (Mathers et al., 2013). Natural products, including phytochemicals, may take up the functionality of reducing or surpassing the problem. The objective of this research paper is to determine the effects of antibacterial on essential oils (EOs) considering the modes of action for the selected EOs components. The components of the EOs against the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The lowest inhibitory concentration and also the minimum bacterial concentration are assed to check the interactions with the selected EOs. The antimicrobial resistance is, therefore, an increasing threat in the field of medicine. The selective pressure by the usage of antibiotics and their abuse results in more threat. It is needful to categorically understand the resistance and the efficacy shown by the many antimicrobial agents.
Background Information on Eucalyptus and Lavender oils
The Eucalyptus and makes up the most basic essential oils. EOs are concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile chemical compounds from plants. EOs are also known as ethereal oils, volatile oils, or aetherolea. They have significant characteristics for all of them, which is a fragrant smell. They are called essential oils not because they are indispensable by the human body or instead because the human body naturally requires them.
Eucalyptus oil as an EOs is produced from Eucalyptus globulus. Its native place of origin is Australia. A team distilled eucalyptus oil make up a cleaning detergent and therefore making up a cleaning solution (Newman & Cragg, 2012). Eucalyptus oil helps in the treatment of diverse medical conditions such as nasal congestion, tick repellant and asthma. Other functionalities include treatment of arthritis, respiratory effects and skin ulcers. Its allergic reactions include shortness of breath, abdominal pain, arrhythmias, hypotension, problems with coordination and multiorgan failure (David, M, & Daum, 2010). Eucalyptus can be used interactively with other drugs to give possible medical results.
Lavender oil is another EOs whose primary model is producing perfume. It is sometimes regarded as antiandrogenic and estrogenic, thus causing problems to pregnant women and prepubescent boys(Newman & Cragg, 2012). As an EOs, lavender oil serves multiple functions which include antiseptic, antibacterial, antispasmodic, sedatives and also antimicrobial functions. Other functionalities served by lavender roil includes treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Its possible side effects include skin irritation, allergy, nausea and vomiting, headache. In such cases, you should stop using the oil as immediately to prevent further complications.
Background Information on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli
- aureus and E. coli are some of the most prevalent species with both the gram-positive and negative bacteria. S. aureus is essentially the most dangerous bacteria under the genus staphylococcus. They are gram-positive and are spherical. This type of bacteria often causes bone infections, heart valve infections, pneumonia, and skin infections. S. aureus can be killed by a pro bacteria called Bacillus. It, therefore, gives the reason why probiotics are issued in most dietary supplements. Tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar eucalyptus essential oil, oregano essential oil can also naturally kill it, thus helping the skin heal from its infections (Newman & Cragg, 2012).
- coli is a gram-negative bacteria whose shape is coli shape (rod-shaped). The bacteria leaves on the gastrointestinal tract as normal flora. The bacteria, however, lives mostly in animals, especially the intestines of cattle. E. coli produces toxins which cause severe illness. The bacteria is mostly transmitted by faecal contamination of food, water. The most frequent food that can act as an agent is raw milk, raw vegetables. E. coli is responsible for most bacterial infections which include Cholecystitis, cholangitis, bacteremia, UTI, cholangitis and other clinical infections such as neonatal meningitis. The bacteria can be naturally killed by the essential oils just as S. aureus (Lopez-Romeroet al., 2015)
Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli
Food born diseases are severe menace worldwide. There are over 100 million people who have immunocompromised diseases (Mathers et al., 2013). The bacterial load and resistance as isolated in different food substances such as meat proved that E. coli and S. aureus were more resistant to amikacin, ciprofloxacin and other bactericidal(Berger,2010). The bacteria indicates different resistant patterns for different foods, and therefore the mode of treatment can be so uneasy.
Resistance in bacteria enables it to escape the wrath of the bactericidal. The resistance, therefore, reduces the ability of the antibiotics to function any relaxed, thus reducing the ability to treat the disease condition (Berdy, 2012). The antibiotics resistance is, therefore, one of the greatest threats in the field of medicine ( French, 2010). The association between the condition and the presence of E. coli and S. aureus shows that improper cleaning or deficient handling could lead to a higher prevalence of these bacteria with S. aureus being more prevalent than E. coli. When the two bacteria are observed under the presence of amoxicillin or amikacin, they become more resistant.
Antibacterial Properties of EOs
Human pathogenesis is an increasingly disturbing menace in the human physiology in the field of medicine. The lack of traditional antibiotic efficacy has led to severe clinical challenges during infectious disease treatment. It is needful to find new therapies to combat the issue at hand. The accepted status of natural plants such as the Eucalyptus and lavender give in interest in antimicrobial derivatives. A significant number of drugs obtained from these sources help in the discovery of new molecules. The EOs have a tremendous effect on E.coli and S. aureus since they are bactericidal (David & Daum,2010). Their inhibitory derivatives against the bacteria with maximum concentration have a little significant effect.
Eucalyptus and lavender contain a series metabolites which contain several bioactive chemical compounds with different chemical structure variance. The chemical variance shown by the EOs makes them versatile. The antimicrobial activity of the selected EOs has got single molecules such as Eugenol, thymol and carvacrol (Seow,2014). Additionally, the mode of action expected from EOsis specific and scarce and therefore, its mechanism of action cannot be easily understood (Bassoléet al., 2012). The components found on the EOs controls the mode of action of these bacteria. The inhibitory analysis of the bactericidal activities of the EOs proves that in different levels, they are active against the selected bacteria at different extents.
Eos Being Used As Antibacterial in Clinical Setting
Antibiotic therapy is a significant clinical treatment for infectious diseases. An enhanced health aspect of human life requires advancement in drug therapy. The antibiotics are increasingly becoming resistant. EOs. act as a productive therapy in the clinical setting (Pitout, & Laupland,2008). The resurgence into herbal medication to help treat bacterial infections has since been researched. It was realized that plants make up a variety of privileged substances. The growing trend to use plants for medicinal purposes created a clinical preference which thereby helped in the complex pathophysiology.
The essential oils have been reviewed to provide better anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, digestive, antiviral, antioxidant functionalities. Their chemical diversity based on their molecular composition demonstrates antimicrobial activities which point the synergistic effects of E.coli and S. aureus (David & Daum, 2010). The close biological components are attributed to the oil concentrations, thereby masking its effects. The role played by the EOs is cellular penetration. It can penetrate easily because of its density, texture and colour.
Conclusion
In conclusion, EOs action on the S. aureus and E. coli is quite diverse and involving. The EOs are identified as potential alternatives for use as medications in clinical settings to help fight bacterial infections. (Adukwu, E., & Edwards-Jones, 2014). They are combined with other drugs to perform clinical results, thus very good for drug interaction. These hydrocarbon derivatives give the solution to the antimicrobial resistance, and therefore these approaches make it a step forward in modifying its functionalities. The natural extracts of Eucalyptus and lavender oils help in the antimicrobial resistance in a very effective manner. The essential oils have the potential antimicrobial activity thus exhibiting bacteriostatic functionalities. It gives antibiotic leadership in clinical settings. The two oils are suggestively required in the treatment of bacterial infections which might be resistive, thus acting as a protective agent in the skin or even on the intestinal tracts. The susceptibility of the bacteria to these EOS is very high and carminative. It is therefore advisable to use these oils but with the prescription of the pharmacist or the doctor to avoid further complications in the body.
References
Adukwu, E., & Edwards-Jones, V. (2014, May). Antimicrobial susceptibility and time-kill analysis of single and combined essential oil blends against clinical and non-clinical isolates of bacteria and fungi. Poster presented at 114th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Conference
In this book of science based on the authors, experiential research, Adukwu and his co-authors attempt to explain the exploration of alternative therapeutics for potential resistant bacteria. The research is however limited to ethical implications of her experiential research process. Adukuwu supplements his research with scholarly research methods. The book is relevant to my topic of study since it helps identify the clinical medications that help solve bacterial infections presented due to bacterial resistance to antimicrobials.
Bérdy, J. (2012). Thoughts and facts about antibiotics: where we are now and where we are heading. The Journal of antibiotics, 65(8), 385-395. [2] G. L. French, “The continuing crisis in antibiotic resistance,”
The journalistic concept of the author explains the increasing crisis of antibacterial resistance and the future of antimicrobials. The research is self-explanatory, however, the author does not inculcate a variety of concepts based on EOs and their ability to kill specific bacteria with ease. The research fulfils the content linking between my works and the research paper by helping in understanding the current state of bactericidal and its merits in the current clinical setting.
Berger, J., Diab-Elschahawi, M., Blacky, A., Pernicka, E., Spertini, V., Assadian, O., … & Aichberger, K. J. (2010). A matched prospective cohort study on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bloodstream infections: extended perspectives beyond resistance. American Journal of infection control, 38(10), 839-845.
The author explains the concept of medicine and microbiology through Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The categorically explains the functionalities behind the extended resistance and this gives it a better understanding of the bacterial resistance. The source is relevant to the paper since it applies the concept behind the killing infections with the two mentioned bacteria. I, therefore, incorporated it in my paper by trying to explain the resistance ability to different antibacterial.
David, M. Z., & Daum, R. S. (2010). Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: epidemiology and clinical consequences of an emerging epidemic. Clinical microbiology reviews, 23(3), 616-687.
The author in this paper explains the resistance of S. aureus and its consequential impacts resulting in an epidemic. The author articulates his scientific research basically and with detail since he introduces the concept of immunology into the paper. the link associated with the community epidemic explains how relevant the source is to my paper. it fulfils my paper’s subject which is to explain the antibacterial properties in essential oils. I incorporated it into my paper by introducing the consequences of the infections and their synergistic infections.
French, G. L. (2010). The continuing crisis in antibiotic resistance. International journal of antimicrobial agents, 36, S3-S7.
French explains the continuing crisis in antibiotic resistance. His journalistic concept attaches the points on antimicrobial agents which gives the paper climaxed strength. The paper is very much relevant to my paper since it explains the resistance levels and their threats. I incorporated it in my paper by bringing the association between antibiotics resistance and its handling techniques
Lopez-Romero, J. C., González-Ríos, H., Borges, A., & Simões, M. (2015). Antibacterial effects and mode of action of selected essential oils components against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015.
The author in this paper puts down the impacts and effects based on the bacterial mode of action which is a topic that is widely discussed. He explains into details and works within the lines of ethical implications. The paper makes much relevance to my paper since it sets itself directly to my topic of interest which is the antibacterial properties of EOs. I, therefore, incorporated it in the paper by attributing the fact that bacteria have no resistance ability to the EOs as suggested by the paper.
Mathers, C., Fat, D. M., & Boerma, J. T. (2013). The global burden of disease: 2004 update. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2008.
The author in this case carries out primary research explaining the global burden of disease. The author is however basing his arguments based on inferential concepts and thereby not giving it the scientific strength. The paper is however relevant to my paper giving me the statistics of the disease burden in the world. I incorporated it into the paper by giving the burden level of the impact of the infections.
Newman, D. J., & Cragg, G. M. (2012). Natural products as sources of new drugs over the 30 years from 1981 to 2010. Journal of natural products, 75(3), 311-335.
Newman and his co-authors have a direct implication on the research study. The authors have varied their results all through the years and have given an extensive modality of the natural drugs. The research makes a deep relevance to my paper since it achieves the concept of natural usage of plants to treat ailments. I, therefore, incorporated the paper into mine by explaining the usability of eucalyptus oil and the lavender oil
Pitout, J. D., & Laupland, K. B. (2008). Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae: an emerging public-health concern. The Lancet infectious diseases, 8(3), 159-166.
With the merging public health concern, the paper intrinsically explains the infectious disease within the modalities of a bacteria. Its relevance speaks volumes in my paper since it gives a series of infections as projected by public health. It helps me define productive therapy within a clinical setting.
Seow, Y. X., Yeo, C. R., Chung, H. L., & Yuk, H. G. (2014). Plant essential oils as active antimicrobial agents. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 54(5), 625-644.
The food department as explained by the author makes a step in introducing natural plants into the antimicrobial compositions in place of chemical compounds. The data subjected was a one-way variance analysis. The author did not incorporate the antimicrobial agents directly in his research. The paper, however, remains relevant to mine since it gives the essence of EOs in the treatment of infectious bacterial diseases. I used it to give out the compositions of the natural plant essential oils used in the antimicrobial activity.