Chemical composition of essential oil from Hyptis suaveolens leaves and antibacterial activity against common skin infections

Abstract

The most common skin diseases, eczema and acne, require long-term treatment, often leading to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the composition of essential oil from the leaves of Hyptis suaveolens (HSEO) from two different locations, Nakhon Ratchasima (NR) and Phitsanulok (PL), and to evaluate their antibacterial activities. HSEO was obtained by steam distillation from fresh leaves, and its chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods against the common causative agents of eczema and acne. Thirty-eight and thirty-six components were identified in HSEO-NR and HSEO-PL, respectively. The three major components were 1, 8-cineole (18.82%, 8.89%), β-caryophyllene (12.95%, 12.81%), and sabinene (11.72%, 18.49%). Antibacterial activity screening using the agar disc diffusion method demonstrated that both HSEOs exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of HSEO-NR ranged from 46.72 to 109.00 mg/ml, while the MIC values for HSEO-PL ranged from 93.45 to 140.18 mg/ml. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for HSEO-NR ranged from 93.45 to >140.18 mg/ml, and the MBC values for HSEO-PL ranged from 109.00 to >140.18 mg/ml. The antibacterial activity of the HSEO was attributed to 1, 8-cineole and other components, but not to β-caryophyllene. Both HSEOs demonstrated potential use for the treatment of eczema and acne.