International Journal of Medical Laboratory
Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences
Thu, Apr 23, 2026
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Department of Biology, Khor.C., Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran
Abstract: (91 Views)
Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance has become a serious global health issue; hospital-acquired infections are now much harder to treat effectively. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia emerges as an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium with built-in resistance to numerous antimicrobial agents. The present work examined the antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects of Satureja khuzestanica essential oil and coumarin against a standard strain of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
Materials and Methods: Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Satureja khuzestanica. Agar well diffusion tested basic susceptibility. Broth microdilution measured minimum inhibitory concentration )MIC( and minimum bactericidal concentration )MBC) values. Crystal violet assay assessed biofilm inhibition at sub-inhibitory concentrations )sub-MIC( concentrations of the essential oil.
Results: Inhibition zones measured 40.0 mm for the essential oil and 30.0 mm for coumarin. The oil gave an MIC of 31.25 µg/mL and an MBC of 62.50 µg/mL. A ratio of 2.0 indicated bactericidal activity. Coumarin displayed poor solubility with precipitation in broth medium; reliable MIC and MBC values remained undetermined. Biofilm formation fell by 62.1% at half the MIC of the essential oil (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Satureja khuzestanica essential oil effectively killed planktonic cells of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and substantially reduced biofilm development. Data support the potential application of this oil in plant-derived therapies for multidrug-resistant strains and chronic biofilms in clinical settings. Improved formulations may yield viable options in the near term. Addition to conventional antibiotics could prolong their utility.
Materials and Methods: Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Satureja khuzestanica. Agar well diffusion tested basic susceptibility. Broth microdilution measured minimum inhibitory concentration )MIC( and minimum bactericidal concentration )MBC) values. Crystal violet assay assessed biofilm inhibition at sub-inhibitory concentrations )sub-MIC( concentrations of the essential oil.
Results: Inhibition zones measured 40.0 mm for the essential oil and 30.0 mm for coumarin. The oil gave an MIC of 31.25 µg/mL and an MBC of 62.50 µg/mL. A ratio of 2.0 indicated bactericidal activity. Coumarin displayed poor solubility with precipitation in broth medium; reliable MIC and MBC values remained undetermined. Biofilm formation fell by 62.1% at half the MIC of the essential oil (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Satureja khuzestanica essential oil effectively killed planktonic cells of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and substantially reduced biofilm development. Data support the potential application of this oil in plant-derived therapies for multidrug-resistant strains and chronic biofilms in clinical settings. Improved formulations may yield viable options in the near term. Addition to conventional antibiotics could prolong their utility.
Keywords: Anti-Bacterial Agents, Anti-Biofilms Agents, Coumarins, Satureja khuzestanica, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia C
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