JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2020, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (2): 98-104.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-2006.201902016

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Synergistic antimicrobial effect and mechanism of pine needle essential oil

LIU Wenli1(), BAO Yihong1,2,*()   

  1. 1. College of Forestry,Northeast Forestry University,Harbin 150040,China
    2. Key Laboratory of Forest Food Resources Utilization of Heilongjiang Province,Harbin 150040,China
  • Received:2019-02-20 Revised:2019-12-28 Online:2020-03-30 Published:2020-04-01
  • Contact: BAO Yihong E-mail:liuwenli011@163.com;baoyihong@163.com

Abstract:

【Objective】Synergistic bacteriostatic effects of pine needle essential oil from three pine species on bacteria and the underlying mechanism were studied; moreover, a theoretical basis was provided for the use of pine needle essential oil as a natural bacteriostatic substance to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and its application in food and cosmetics.【Method】The antibacterial effects of pine needle oil from Pinus tabulaeformis var. mukdensis(PTEO), P. sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. (PSEO), and P. koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc. (PKEO) on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis were determined by using a micro-dilution method. The synergistic effects and the optimal compounding ratio were determined by using a checkerboard dilution method. The antibacterial mechanism against Escherichia Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis was studied using the optimal essential oil ratio. 【Result】The results revealed that the three essential oils showed good antibacterial effects against the three tested bacteria. After compounding, the effect was evidently improved, and the composition of and bacteriostatic effect on different microorganisms also differed. The highest antibacterial effects after compounding were obtained with the following ratios: E. coli (PTEO and PSEO, MIC combination 0.31 μL/mL each), S. aureus (PKEO and PTEO, MIC combination 0.16 μL/mL each), andB. subtilis (PKEO and PSEO, MIC combination: 0.16 and 0.08 μL/mL, respectively). The investigation of the antibacterial mechanism of the compounded oils on the three tested bacteria indicated that compounded essential oils can disrupt the normal morphology of bacterial cells and permeability of cell membranes, leading to the leakage of macromolecules such as nucleic acids, destruction of the permeability of the cell membrane proteins; moreover, they interfere with the synthesis and accumulation of cell proteins. 【Conclusion】The combination of three pine needle essential oils has a good antibacterial effect, and the synergistic effect of the essential oils can reduce the amount of essential oils required for the antibacterial effect. The study provides a preliminary understanding of the antibacterial mechanism of the pine needle essential oil.

Key words: pine needle essential oil, synergistic effect, bacteriostatic mechanism, Pinus tabulaeformis var. mukdensis, P. sylvestris var. mongolica Litv., P. koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.

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