The Essential Oil of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden Inhibits Microbial Growth by Inducing Membrane Damage

Oluwagbemiga Sewanu Soyingbe, Adebola Oyedeji, Albert Kortze Basson, Andy Rowland Opoku

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Empangeni, South Africa.
Department of Chemistry, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa.

DOI: 10.4236/cm.2013.41002                

Abstract

Eucalyptus grandis is a medicinal plant which has been indicated by Zulu traditional healer in the treatment of respiratory tract infections, bronchial infections, asthma and cough. The investigation of the essential oil of this plant could help to verify the rationale behind the use of the plant as a cure for these illnesses. Essential oil was hydro-distilled from the fresh leaves and characterised for the chemical constituents and bioactivity. The main constituents of the oil of the E. grandis are α-Pinene (29.69%), p-Cymene (19.89%), 1,8-cineole (12.80%), α-Terpineol (6.48%), Borneol (3.48%) and D-Limonene (3.14%). The essential oil of E. grandis showed high scavenging of DPPH and ABTS radicals, and was actively against 13 of the 16 organisms tested with the MIC ranging from 0.625 mg - 5.0 mg/ml; the MBC value ranged from 2.5 mg - 10 mg/ml. The essential oil also inhibited the growth of 7 of the 8 antibiotic resistant bacteria tested, with MIC ranging from 5 mg/ml - 10 mg/ml. The DNA extracted from the affected microorganisms did not show any damage however, there was an increase of released cytosolic LDH activity. We conclude that the antibacterial activity of the essential oil was exhibited through cell membrane damage rather than the damage of the DNA. It is apparent that the bioactivity of the essential oil of E. grandis plays an important role in the plants’ use in folk medicine for the treatment of respiratory tract illnesses.

Keywords

Essential Oil; Antioxidant; Antimicrobial Activity; LDH

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	J. George, M. D. Laing and S. E. Drewes, “Phytochemical Research in South Africa,” Journal of Science South Africa, Vol. 97, 2001, pp. 93-105.
[2]	A. Hutchings, A. H. Scott, G. Lewis and A. Cunningham, “Zulu Medicinal Plants: An Inventory,” University of Natal Press, Scottsville, 1996.
[3]	B. Van Wyk and M. Wink, “Medicinal Plants of the World,” Briza Publications, Queenswood, 2004.
[4]	B. Van Wyk and N. Gericke, “Peoples Plants. A Guide to Useful of Southern Africa,” Briza Publications, Queenswood, 2003.
[5]	M. V. Gumede, “In Traditional Healers: A Medical Doctors Perspective,” Skotaville Press, Johannesburg, 1989.
[6]	A. R. Opoku, N. F. Maseko and S. E. Terblanche, “The in Vitro Antioxidative Activity of Some Traditional Zulu Medicinal Plants,” Phytotherapy Research, Vol. 16, No. S1, 2002, pp. S51-S56. doi:10.1002/ptr.804
[7]	A. Jean-Paul, F. Lorna and S. Huw, “Plant Active Components: A Resource for Antiparasitic Agents?” Trends in Parasitology, Vol. 21, No. 10, 2005, pp. 442-468.
[8]	E. O. Iwalewa, L. J. Mc Gaw, V. Naidoo and J. N. Eloff, “Inflammation: The Foundation of Disease and Disorders. A Review of Phytomedicines of South African Origin Used to Treat Pain and Inflammatory Conditions,” African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 6, No. 25, 2007, pp. 2868-2885.
[9]	H. Bibhabasu, B. Santanu and M. Nripendranath, “Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Spondiaspinnata,” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol. 8, 2008, pp. 63.
[10]	M. Jacobs, “Eucalypts for Planting,” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 1976, 398 p.
[11]	D. Hopkins-Broyles, Y. Rieger, A. Grim, D. Nihill, M. Jones, R. Damiano, D. K. Warren and V. J. Fraser, “Risk Factors for Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in a Cardiac Surgery Population,” American Journal of Infection Control, Vol. 32, No. 3, 2004, p. 119 doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2004.04.176
[12]	K. Vivek, S. S. Bajpai and C. K. Sun, “Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil and Various Extract of Silenearmeria L.,” Bioresource Technology, Vol. 99, No. 18, 2008, pp. 8903-8908. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2008.04.060
[13]	F. Sisay, L. T. Gil, W. E. Tolosana and R. López, “Eucalyptus Species Management, History, Status and Trends in Ethiopia,” Proceedings from the Congress, Addis Ababa, 15-17 September 2010, pp. 62-68.
[14]	F. A. Santos and V. S. Rao, “Anti Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Effects of 1,8-Cineole, a Terpenoid Oxide Present in Many Plant Essential Oils,” Phytotherapy Research, Vol. 14, No. 4, 2000, pp. 240-244. doi:10.1002/1099-1573(200006)14:4<240::AID-PTR573>3.0.CO;2-X
[15]	S. F. Van Vuuren and A. M. Viljoen, “A Comparative Investigation of the Antimicrobial Properties of Indigenous South African Aromatic Plants with Popular Commercially Available Essential Oils,” Journal of Essential Oil Research, Vol. 18, 2006, pp. 66-71.
[16]	J. N. Eloff, “A Sensitive and Quick Method to Determine the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration of Plant Extracts for Bacteria,” Planta Medicine, Vol. 64, No. 8, 1998, pp. 711-713. doi:10.1055/s-2006-957563
[17]	M. B. C. Simelane, O. A. Lawal, T. G. Djarova and A. R. Opoku, “In Vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity of Gunnera perpensa L. (Gunneraceae) from South Africa,” Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, Vol. 4, No. 21, 2010, pp. 2181-2188.
[18]	X. Liu, X.-J. Zhang, Y.-J. Fu, Y. G. Zu, N. Wu, L. Liang and T. Efferth, “Cajanol Inhibits the Growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by Acting on Membrane and DNA Damage,” Planta Medicine, Vol. 77, No. 2, 2011, pp. 158-163. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1250146
[19]	M. Wu, P. Wu, H. H. Xie, G. J. Wu and X. Y. Wei, “Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids Mediating DNA Strand Scission from Turpinia arguta,” Planta Medicine, Vol. 77, No. 3, 2011, pp. 284-286. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1250239
[20]	C. Korzeniewski and D. M. Callewaert, “An EnzymeRelease Assay for Natural Cytotoxicity,” Journal of Immunological Methods, Vol. 64, No. 3, 1983, pp. 313-320. doi:10.1016/0022-1759(83)90438-6
[21]	V. Badovinac, V. Trajkovic and M. Mostarica-Stojkovic, “Nitric Oxide Promotes Growth and Major Histocompatibility Complex-Unrestricted Cytotoxicity of Interleukin2-Activated Rat Lymphocytes,” Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, Vol. 52, No. 1, 2000, pp. 62-70. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3083.2000.00753.x
[22]	V. M. Tadic, I. Jeremic, S. Dobric, A. Isakovic, I. Markovic, V. Trajkovic, D. Bojovic and I. Arsic, “Anti-Inflammatory, Gastroprotective, and Cytotoxic Effect of Sideritis scardica Extracts,” Planta Medicine, Vol. 78, No. 5, 2012, pp. 415-427. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1298172
[23]	A. Lucia, P. Gonzalez Audino, E. Seccacini, S. Licastro, E. Zerbra and H. Masuh, “Larvicidal Effect of Eucalyptus grandis Essential Oil and Turpentine and Their Major Component on Aedesaegypti Larvae,” Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, Vol. 23, No. 3, 2007, pp. 299-303. doi:10.2987/8756-971X(2007)23[299:LEOEGE]2.0.CO;2
[24]	I. A. Ogunwande, O. O. Nureni, A. A. Kasali and A. K. Wilfried, “Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils from the Leaves of Three Eucalyptus Species Growing in Nigeria,” Journal of Essential Oil Research, Vol. 15, No. 5, 2003, pp. 297-301. doi:10.1080/10412905.2003.9698595
[25]	K. Cimanga, S. Apers, T. Bruyne, S. Van Miert, N. Hermans, J. Totte, L. Pieters and A. J. Vlietinck, “Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Essential Oils of Some Aromatic Medicinal Plants Growing in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Journal of Essential Oil Research, Vol. 14, No. 5, 2002, pp. 382-387. doi:10.1080/10412905.2002.9699894
[26]	E. Dagne, D. Bisrat, M. Alemayehu and T. Worku, “Essential Oils of Twelve Eucalyptus Species from Ethiopia,” Journal of Essential Oil Research, Vol. 12, No. 4, 2000, pp. 467-470. doi:10.1080/10412905.2000.9699567
[27]	Y. C. Su, C.-L. Ho, E.-C. Wang and S.-T. Chang, “Antifungal Activities and Chemical Compositions of Essential Oils from Leaves of Four Eucalypts,” Taiwan Journal of Forest Science, Vol. 21, No. 1, 2006, pp. 49-61.
[28]	S. M. A. Zobayed, F. Afreen and T. Kozai, “Temperature Stress Can Alter the Photosynthetic Efficiency and Secondary Metabolite Concentrations in St. John’s Wort,” Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Vol. 43, No. 10-11, 2005, pp. 977-984. doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2005.07.013
[29]	A. Kirakosyan, E. Seymour, P. B. Kaufman, S. Warber, S. Bolling and S. C. Chang, “Antioxidant Capacity of Polyphenolic Extracts from Leaves of Crataegus laevigata and Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn) Subjected to Drought and Cold Stress,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 51, No. 14, 2003, pp. 3973-3976. doi:10.1021/jf030096r
[30]	M. R. Saha, A. Alam, R. Akter and R. Jahangir, “In Vitro Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Ixoracoccinea L.,” Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2008, pp. 90-96. doi:10.3329/bjp.v3i2.838
[31]	C. Y. Hsu, Y. P. Chan and J. Chang, “Antioxidant Activity of Extract from Polygonum cuspidatum,” Biological Research, Vol. 40, No. 1, 2007, pp. 13-21. doi:10.4067/S0716-97602007000100002
[32]	G. Ambrosio, I. Tritto and P. Golino, “Reactive Oxygen Metabolites and Arterial Thrombosis (Review),” Cardiovascular Research, Vol. 34, No. 3, 1997, pp. 445-452. doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(97)00101-6
[33]	A. M. Ramzi, “Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oil of Nepetade flersiana Growing in Yemen,” Records of Natural Products, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2011, pp. 189-193.
[34]	R. T. Fasola, G. K. Oloyede and B. S. Aponjolosun, “Chemical Composition, Toxicity and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils of Stem Bark of Nigerian Species of Guava (Psidium guajava linn.),” EXCLI Journal, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2011, pp. 34-43.
[35]	A. Kadri, B. C. Ines, Z. Zied, B. Ahmed, G. Néji, D. Mohamed and G. Radhouane, “Chemical Constituents and Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oil from Aerial Parts of Artemisia herbaalba Grown in Tunisian Semi-Arid Region,” African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 10, No. 15, 2011, pp. 2923-2929.
[36]	G. Raju and M. Maridas, “Composition, Antifungal and Cytotoxic Activities of Essential Oils of Piper barberi Fruits,” International Journal of Biological Technology, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2011, pp. 100-105.
[37]	O. K. Mirzoeva, R. N. Grishanin and P. C. Calder, “Antimicrobial Action of Propolis and Some of Its Components: The Effects on Growth, Membrane Potential and Motility of Bacteria,” Microbiological Research, Vol. 152, No. 3, 1997, pp. 239-246. doi:10.1016/S0944-5013(97)80034-1
[38]	L. Sánchez-González, M. Vargas, C. González-Martínez, A. Chiralt and M. Cháfer, “Use of Essential Oils in Bioactive Edible Coatings: A Review,” Food Engineering Reviews, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2011, pp. 1-16. doi:10.1007/s12393-010-9031-3
[39]	S. J. Levine, “Bronchial Epithelial Cell-Cytokine Interactions in Airway Inflammation,” Investigative Medicine, Vol. 43, 1995, pp. 241-249.
[40]	S. Pinto, A. V. Rao and A. Rao, “Erythrocyte and Plasma Antioxidant in Bronchial Asthma before and after Homeopathic Treatment,” Journal of Homeopathy & Ayurvedic Medicine, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2012, p. 13. doi:10.4172/2167-1206.1000103