Use of Aromatherapy Associated with Antibiotictherapy: Modulation of the Antibiotic Activity by the Essential Oil of Zanthoxylum articulatum Using Gaseous Contact

Staphylococcus genus is widely spread in nature being part of the indigenous microbiota of skin and mucosa of animal and birds. Some Staphylococcus species are frequently recognized as etiological agents of many animal and human opportunistic infections. This is the first report of efflux pump inhibition by the volatile compounds from essential oil of Zanthoxylum articulatum. The aim of this study was evaluated the synergism between the essential oil of Zanthoxylum articulatum and aminoglycosides. The leaves of Zanthoxylum articulatum Engler (Rutaceae) were subjected to hydrodistillation, and the essential oil extracted was examined with respect to inhibitory activity of efflux pump by gaseous contact. The gaseous component of the oil enhanced the antibiotic activity of gentamicin, possibly by affecting the efflux system and enhanced the inhibition zone of norfloxacin in 70.9 %. This result shows that this oil influences the antibiotic activity and may be used as an adjuvant in the antibiotic therapy of multidrug resistant pathogens (MDR).