Citrus oil and MgCl2 as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents

Background: The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory proper-ties of Dead Sea magnesium chloride (MgCl2), citrus oil, and their combination were investigated. Citrus oil is composed of monoterpenes, in particular D-limonene, which is known to inhibit growth of bacteria, fungi, and certain parasites. Methods: Inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis in vitro was used to evaluate the antibacterial effect of a mixture of Dead Sea magnesium chloride and citrus oil and of each of the components. A subcutaneous chamber model in mice was used to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of the mixture and the individual components. Leukocyte migration, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion, and interleukin (IL)-10 secretion were determined. Hydrocortisone was used as a positive control. Results: Citrus oil had an antibacterial effect with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 mg/ml, whereas MgCl2 at concentrations up to 10 mg/ml did not exhibit any antibacterial activity. However, a mixture of 10 mg/ml MgCl2 and 0.25 mg/ml citrus oil dramatically increased inhibition of bacterial growth. The combination of MgCl2 and the citrus oil resulted in lower levels of TNF-alpha and leukocyte migration while maintaining the levels of IL-10 compared to the control. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a mixture of citrus oil and MgCl2 could be used as a natural antibacterial and antiinflammatory agent.