AEGiS-CATIE: Essential oils for drug-resistant bacteria?

Essential oils for drug-resistant bacteria?

TreatmentUpdate83 - Vol. 9, No. 9 - pp. 3; November 1997
Sean Hosein

We are hearing more and more reports of bacteria that are able to resist the effects of antibiotics. In order to find new compounds with antibacterial activity, researchers are turning to essential oils from selected plants. These plants and/or their extracts have been used for centuries to treat wounds and infections and may yield new treatments. Lab experiments in the UK have revealed that essential plant oils have antibiotic properties against some strains of drug-resistant bacteria.

The researcher tested 5 essential plant oils:

* tea tree

* lavender

* mint

* thyme

* juniper

against two types of bacteria--MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. Aureus) and VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci). Tea tree oil was the most powerful, followed by lavender, peppermint and thyme oils (equally effective). Juniper oil was not as powerful as the other oils which was unusual since it is known to have antibacterial effects.

Based on these results, perhaps these oils could be tested on humans with certain bacterial skin infections. One potential problem is that small amounts of these oils are often put into cosmetics. This could give bacteria a chance to develop some resistance against the oils.

REFERENCES:

1. Nelson RRS. In-vitro activity of five plant essential oils against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1997;40:305-306.

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