Effect of Achillea santolina essential oil on bacterial biofilm and its mode of action

Increased multidrug resistance prompted researchers to search for a new drug that has the ability to overcome antibiotic resistant pathogens. Essential oils have been used in folk medicine for centuries, therefore, they could be employed as an effective alternative to antibiotics without having secondary side effects.

The aim of the present study was to test the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil of Achillea santolina and to ascertain its mode of action.

Minimum Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC) susceptibility assays were performed using a biofilm inoculator with a 96-well plate with peg led. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was performed in normal microtitre plates using a twofold dilution series.

Achillea santolina essential oil (ASEO) was able to overcome the resistance of all tested bacteria. The MIC values were in the range of 250-1000 µg/ml, while the MBC values were in the range of 500-2000 µg/ml. ASEO increased leakage of potassium ions from the cell membrane and increased release of cellular materials – suggesting that the cell membrane is the target and site of action of ASEO. Moreover, ASEO was able to inhibit initial adherence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (ATCC 43300) at sub-inhibitory concentrations through alterations to cell membrane.