Synergistic effect of fennel essential oil and hydrogen peroxide on bacterial biofilm

• Published in: Postȩpy dermatologii i alergologii Vol. 37; no. 5; pp. 690 - 698
• Main Authors: Kwiatkowski, Paweł, Grygorcewicz, Bartłomiej, Pruss, Agata, Wojciuk, Bartosz, Giedrys-Kalemba, Stefania, Dołêgowska, Barbara, Zielińska-Bliźniewska, Hanna, Olszewski, Jurek, Sienkiewicz, Monika, Kochan, Ewa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poland Termedia Publishing House 01.01.2020
• Subjects: biofilm; fennel essential oil; h2o2; Original Paper; staphylococcus aureus; fennel essential oil; H2O2; Staphylococcus aureus; biofilm
• ISSN: 1642-395X; 2299-0046
• DOI: 10.5114/ada.2019.83621

Staphylococcal biofilm formation significantly challenges wound management. The causes of difficult-to-treat wounds are not only methicillin-resistant staphylococci, but also methicillin-sensitive strains with different patterns of resistance. Bacterial biofilm significantly limits the access and activity of antimicrobials used in dermatological infections. To evaluate the synergistic effect of fennel essential oil (FEO) and H O on biofilm formation by (MSSA and MRSA) reference strains. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined for FEO and H O against reference strains by the broth microdilution method. The combined effects of the FEO and H O were calculated and expressed in terms of a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) using the checkerboard method. The FEO composition was analyzed by the GC-MS method. The data were analysed by one-way ANOVA. Decreased MIC values for FEO combined with H O were observed in comparison to FEO itself. The combinations of FEO and H O determined synergistic effects on all reference strains. Subinhibitory concentration of FEO alone and in combination with 0.5 MIC of H O significantly decreased the production of biofilm biomass in strains and reduced the metabolic activity of attached cells. Combination of fennel essential oil containing nearly 80% -anethole and H O represents a potential for further basic and applied research on wound management.