<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Pathogenic bacteria of the genus <italic>Legionella</italic> cause atypical pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease and flu – like disease known as Pontiac fever. As pathogens of the respiratory system, these bacteria represent a public health problem and there is a need for examine new alternative ways to inactivate them. These bacteria live naturally in water and are transmitted by infectious aerosols. To purify the air, essential oils that show antimicrobial properties are widely used. The anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> activity of five exotic essential oils and five Mediterranean essential oils characteristic for coastal Croatia was examined. Model organism used in experiments was <italic>L. pneumophila</italic> (strain 130b). This experiment was conducting with modified version of sealed plate method using a BCYE medium. The exotic essential oil with highest anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> activity was Niaouli essential oil, and the best anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> activity among Mediterranean essential oils showed Immortelle essential oil. Anti- <italic>Legionella</italic> activity of four main chemical compounds was examined and compound that show significant highest anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> activity was α – pinene. Volatile components of essential oils have a great potential as anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> agents and further research are needed.</p></abstract>

Pathogenic bacteria of the genus Legionella cause atypical pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease and flu – like disease known as Pontiac fever. As pathogens of the respiratory system, these bacteria represent a public health problem and there is a need for examine new alternative ways to inactivate them. These bacteria live naturally in water and are transmitted by infectious aerosols. To purify the air, essential oils that show antimicrobial properties are widely used. The anti-Legionella activity of five exotic essential oils and five Mediterranean essential oils characteristic for coastal Croatia was examined. Model organism used in experiments was L. pneumophila (strain 130b). This experiment was conducting with modified version of sealed plate method using a BCYE medium. The exotic essential oil with highest anti-Legionella activity was Niaouli essential oil, and the best anti-Legionella activity among Mediterranean essential oils showed Immortelle essential oil. Anti- Legionella activity of four main chemical compounds was examined and compound that show significant highest anti-Legionella activity was α – pinene. Volatile components of essential oils have a great potential as anti-Legionella agents and further research are needed.

Antimicrobial activity of the volatile phase of essential oils and their constituents on <italic>Legionella pneumophila</italic>

Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine

Sanitarno inženirstvo International Journal of Sanitary Engineering Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Antimicrobial activity of the volatile phase of essential oils and their constituents on 

Pathogenic bacteria of the genus Legionella cause atypical pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease and flu – like disease known as Pontiac fever. As pathogens...

Antimicrobial activity of the volatile phase of essential oils and their constituents on Legionella pneumophila

Published Online: Apr 27, 2021

Page range: 54 - 61

Received: Feb 29, 2020

Accepted: Dec 30, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijser-2020-0005

Keywords
essential oils, volatile components, antibacterial effect

© 2020 Lucia Bićanić et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Antimicrobial activity of the volatile phase of essential oils and their constituents on Legionella pneumophila

Published Online: Apr 27, 2021

Page range: 54 - 61

Received: Feb 29, 2020

Accepted: Dec 30, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijser-2020-0005

Keywordsessential oils, volatile components, antibacterial effect

© 2020 Lucia Bićanić et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
essential oils, volatile components, antibacterial effect