This study systematically evaluated the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of lavender essential oil (LEO) extracted from the 'Jubileina' cultivar of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. grown in northeastern Bulgaria. The research identified linalool and linalyl acetate as major components, demonstrating significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). Molecular docking analysis revealed potential targeting of the FabI protein, providing a new natural source for antimicrobial drug development.
Literature Overview
The article 'Antimicrobial Activity of Lavender Essential Oil from Lavandula angustifolia Mill.: In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation' published in the journal Antibiotics reviews and summarizes the antimicrobial properties of lavender essential oil and its synergistic effects with antibiotics. The study highlights the potential of lavender essential oil in combating antimicrobial resistance, particularly in E. coli infection models. It integrates in vitro antimicrobial experiments with computational analysis to support its application prospects as a natural antimicrobial agent.
Background Knowledge
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most critical global health challenges of the 21st century. The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli has significantly reduced the effectiveness of existing antimicrobial therapies, leading to increased infection rates and medical burdens. However, the development of novel antibiotics lags far behind the evolution of resistance mechanisms, prompting research to shift toward natural antimicrobial agents, particularly plant extracts. Lavender essential oil has gained significant attention due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and synergistic effects with antibiotics. This study focuses on the 'Jubileina' cultivar of lavender grown in northeastern Bulgaria, analyzing its essential oil composition and antimicrobial properties to address a gap in the region's research. While extensive studies exist on lavender essential oil, most concentrate on southern cultivation regions. This research is the first to combine in vitro antimicrobial testing, antibiotic synergy experiments, and computational analysis to systematically assess the antimicrobial mechanisms and potential applications of this cultivar.
Research Methods and Experiments
The research team extracted essential oil from the 'Jubileina' lavender cultivar using hydrodistillation and analyzed its chemical composition via GC-MS. In vitro antimicrobial activity was determined by broth microdilution, including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC). Time-kill kinetics assessed the oil's bactericidal rate against E. coli and C. albicans, while antimicrobial synergy experiments used disk diffusion to evaluate combined effects with antibiotics. Additionally, human protein target prediction and protein-protein interaction network analysis were conducted via the STRING database, and molecular docking was performed using SwissDock to explore binding affinity of linalool and linalyl acetate to E. coli FabI protein.
Key Conclusions and Perspectives
Research Significance and Prospects
This study provides scientific evidence for lavender essential oil as a natural antimicrobial agent and antibiotic synergist, particularly for E. coli infection models. Future research should further evaluate its antimicrobial efficacy in vivo and explore mechanisms of host immune modulation and physiological responses. Based on the identified antimicrobial mechanisms, novel combination therapies could be developed, especially for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections.
Conclusion
Lavender essential oil (LEO) demonstrates broad pharmacological and clinical potential as a natural antimicrobial agent. This study systematically evaluated its in vitro and in silico antimicrobial activity, revealing potential mechanisms of action. LEO exhibits significant antimicrobial effects against E. coli through membrane disruption and inhibition of fatty acid synthesis pathways, while enhancing antibiotic efficacy at subinhibitory concentrations. Protein interaction network analysis suggests its components may regulate host inflammatory and immune response pathways, indicating dual antimicrobial and host-modulatory functions. Although efficacy against fungi is limited, its potent activity against Gram-negative bacteria remains critical. Future research must validate in vivo antimicrobial effects in animal models and explore clinical applications as an antimicrobial synergist.
