Comparison of essential oils from three plants for enhancement of antimicrobial activity of nitrofurantoin against enterobacteria

Background: Piperitone from plant essential oils enhances bactericidal activities of nitrofurantoin and furazolidone against bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae. In this study, the essential oils of spearmint ( Mentha spicata L.), dill ( Anethum graveolens L.) and peppermint ( Mentha piperita L.) were screened for augmentation of nitrofurantoin activity and the most active components were determined. Method: The effects of essential oils and their components on the bactericidal activity of nitrofurantoin against Enterobacter cloacae were studied using disk-diffusion and agar-dilution methods. The composition of essential oils was studied using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: M. spicata and A. graveolens oils exhibited the highest effects. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the oils of these two plants contained 40.12 and 20.32% carvone, respectively. Pure carvone and piperitone equally increased the bactericidal activity of nitrofurantoin. Other ingredients of essential oils, including camphor, limonene and menthone, were less effective. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel