In vitro assessment of antimicrobial activity of carvacrol, thymol and cinnamaldehyde towards Salmonella serotype Typhimurium DT104: effects of pig diets and emulsification in hydrocolloids

AIMS: To determine the effect of pig diets in vitro on the antimicrobial activity of carvacrol, thymol and cinnamaldehyde, and to identify an emulsifier/stabilizer that can stabilize the essential oil (EO) components in aqueous solution and retain their antimicrobial activity in the presence of the diets. METHODS AND RESULTS: Emulsification of essential oil components with hydrocolloid solution was achieved by blending with a Polytron. Antimicrobial activity was measured through in vitro assays to determine the inhibition of bacterial growth by measuring the optical density at 600 nm or plating on nutrition agar after incubation of the mixtures of an EO component with the culture of Salmonella serotype Typhimurium DT104 in the presence or absence of pig diets. The results generated through the in vitro assays indicated that pig diets were able to abolish the antimicrobial activity of EOs. Xanthan, fenugreek and yellow mustard gums were the best in forming stable emulsions of five different EO components among ten different plant polysaccharides and surfactants examined. Emulsification of all the EO components in the fenugreek gum solution did not alter their antimicrobial activity. However, the antimicrobial activity of geraniol was significantly reduced when emulsified with other polysaccharides and surfactants. Both fenugreek and xanthan gum solutions were unable to protect the antimicrobial activity of carvacrol and thymol when mixed with the diets. Although cinnamaldehyde required no emulsification, but a high concentration (equivalent to at least three times of minimum bactericidal concentration for cinnamon oil) to inhibit Salmonella growth significantly in the presence of the diets, emulsification in fenugreek gum appeared to be essential for cinnamaldehyde solution to retain its antimicrobial activity during storage. CONCLUSIONS: The diets for newly weaned pigs were a significant factor limiting the antimicrobial activity of EOs and their components. Cinnamaldehyde required a high concentration to retain its antimicrobial activity in the diets, in addition to its requirement for emulsification to stabilize its activity during the storage. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The assay with the diets used in this study for measuring the antimicrobial activity can be used in vitro for rapid and effective screening of potential antimicrobials for swine production. This study has identified polysaccharides that are able to stabilize EO component solutions. It has also identified cinnamaldehyde for further in vivo studies that may have potential in future application in controlling Salmonella and possibly other enteric pathogens in swine production.     

Vapour–phase activities of essential oils against antibiotic sensitive and resistant bacteria including MRSA

Aims:  To determine whether essential oil (EO) vapours could reduce surface and airborne levels of bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methods and Results:  The antibacterial activity of geranium and lemongrass EO individually and blended were evaluated over a range of concentrations by direct contact and vapour diffusion. The EO were tested in vitro against a selection of antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant bacteria, including MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), Acinetobacter baumanii and Clostridium difficile . An EO blend containing lemongrass and geranium was used to formulate BioScent^TM that was dispersed into the environment using the ST Pro^TM machine. The effects were variable depending on the methods used. In a sealed box environment, MRSA growth on seeded plates was reduced by 38% after 20 h exposure to BioScent^TM vapour. In an office environment, the ST Pro^TM machine dispersing BioScent^TM effected an 89% reduction of airborne bacteria in 15 h, when operated at a constant output of 100%.
Conclusions:  EO vapours inhibited growth of antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant bacteria in vitro and reduced surface and airborne levels of bacteria.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Results suggest that EO vapours, particularly Bioscent^TM, could be used as a method of air disinfection.     

Anti-biofilm properties of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil against periodontal pathogens

Essential oils of several plants are widely used in ethnomedicine for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, very limited data exist on their use in connection to periodontal diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the bacterial growth inhibiting and anti-biofilm effects of Satureja hortensis L. (summer savory), Salvia fruticosa M. (sage), Lavandula stoechas L. (lavender), Myrtus communis L., and Juniperus communis L. (juniper) essential oils. Chemical compositions of the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, minimum inhibitor concentrations (MICs) with the agar dilution method, and anti-biofilm effects by the microplate biofilm assay. The toxicity of each essential oil was tested on cultured keratinocytes. Of the 5 essential oils, S. hortensis L. essential oil had the strongest growth inhibition effect. Subinhibitory dose of S. hortensis L. essential oil had anti-biofilm effects only against Prevotella nigrescens. Essential oils did not inhibit keratinocyte viability at the concentrations of 1 and 5 μl/ml, however at the concentration of 5 μl/ml epithelial cells detached from the culture well bottom. The present findings suggest that S. hortensis L. essential oil inhibits the growth of periodontal bacteria in the concentration that is safe on keratinocytes, however, in the subinhibitory concentration its anti-biofilm effect is limited.     

Antioxidant,antimicrobial activities and comparative analysis of the composition of essential oils of leaf,stem, flower and aerial part of Nepeta hindostana

Nepeta hindostana (B.Heyne ex Roth) Haines is belonging to lamiaceae family and used as a component of herbal ayurvedic formulation Abana which is useful for the treatment of Hyperlipidemia, Dyslipidemia and Hypercholesterolemia. In the present study, the essential oil from aerial parts (flower, leaves, stem and whole aerial) was collected and the major constituents of essential oils were characterized by GC-FID and GC/MS and further evaluated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial efficacy. The major components of the essential oil were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (77.2, 80.5, 62.5, 77.8%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (10.5, 9.2, 20.6, 9.2%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (5.3, 4.2, 2.5, 3.6%) in leaves, stem, flowers and aerial part, respectively. The major compounds in essential oils were identified as β-sesquiphellandrene, cadina-1,4-diene, α-cadinene, (E)-caryophyllene, α-humulene and β-bisabolene. At 100 μg/mL concentration, leaves essential oil showed strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate free radical scavenging activity with the IC₅₀ 2.8 μg/mL and 34.0% by β-carotene bleaching assay. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity was tested against four Gram-negative and five Gram-positive pathogenic strains. The essential oil from flower showed potent activity (37.5 μg/ml) against S. aureus, S. mutans but was less active against Gram-negative bacterial strains. In anti-MRSA activity, leaves and flowers exhibited strong activity against S. aureus (SA-2071) and S. aureus (SA-4627) with lowest IC₅₀ value of 50–100 μg/mL. Overall, N. hinodostana (L.) essential oil represented a potential reservoir of molecules having potent antioxidant and antimicrobial potential.     

四种植物精油成分对枸杞棉蚜的生物活性

【目的】研究植物精油4种成分丁香酚(eugenol)、α-松油醇(α-terpineol)、肉桂油(cinnamon oil)和香茅油(citronella oil)对枸杞棉蚜Aphis gossypii的生物活性以及马来酸二乙酯和水杨酸乙酯对这些化合物对枸杞棉蚜毒力的影响,为无公害防治枸杞(Lycium spp.)害虫奠定科学基础。【方法】采用二项选择法测定上述4种精油成分(1%)对枸杞棉蚜无翅成蚜的驱避作用;玻璃管药膜法进行生物测定,评估这4种化合物及其与马来酸二乙酯或水杨酸乙酯的混合液对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的毒力;采用生物化学方法分析这些化合物处理后枸杞棉蚜成蚜乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)和三磷酸腺苷酶(ATPase)的离体活性。【结果】α-松油醇(1%)对枸杞棉蚜无翅成蚜的驱避作用明显,1, 2和3 h的驱避率分别为58.1%, 58.6%和55.7%; 3 h时测试的4种化合物对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的驱避率由大到小依次为α-松油醇>香茅油>肉桂油>丁香酚。丁香酚对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的毒杀作用最强,处理4 h时的LC₅₀值为0.48 mL/L,肉桂油、α-松油醇、香茅油对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的LC₅₀值分别为1.23, 6.24和11.97 mL/L。对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的生物测定结果表明,马来酸二乙酯对香茅油、肉桂油、丁香酚和α-松油醇的增效比分别为2.75, 2.86, 1.78和1.56;水杨酸乙酯对香茅油、肉桂油、丁香酚和α-松油醇的增效比分别为3.41, 2.67, 2.00和1.89。毒力比结果表明,所测定的4种化合物对枸杞棉蚜的毒力相差49.9倍,丁香酚与马来酸二乙酯或水杨酸乙酯的混合液对枸杞棉蚜的触杀毒力最高。4种精油成分对枸杞棉蚜成蚜AChE和ATPase活性有不同的作用,丁香酚对AChE活性的抑制作用最强,但对ATPase活性表现为低浓度促进,高浓度抑制。【结论】α-松油醇对枸杞棉蚜驱避作用最好;丁香酚、α-松油醇、肉桂油和香茅油这4种精油成分对枸杞棉蚜的毒力相差很大;丁香酚与马来酸二乙酯或水杨酸乙酯混合后对枸杞棉蚜的毒力提高,具有进一步开发应用的潜力;所测精油成分对枸杞棉蚜离体AChE和ATPase活性有一定抑制作用。     

Susceptibility of methicillin-resistant staphylococci to oregano essential oil, carvacrol and thymol

The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MSS, MRS) to oregano essential oil, carvacrol and thymol. The commercial aerial parts of Origanum vulgare L. were hydrodistilled and the essential oil analysed by gas- chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry. The inhibition efficacy of this essence and its major components was assayed against 26 MSS and 21 MRS, using an agar dilution method. The methicillin resistance was thoroughly typed by Epsilometer test (E-test), polymerase chain reaction for mecA gene detection and PBP2' latex agglutination test. The results clearly demonstrated that the comparison between the susceptibility of MSS and MRS to oregano oil, carvacrol and thymol showed no significant differences (Fisher's exact test, P > 0.05). The best minimum inhibitory concentration values were reported for carvacrol (0.015-0.03%, v/v) followed by thymol (0.03-0.06%, v/v) and oregano oil (0.06-0.125%, v/v).     

十九种植物精油对茶丽纹象甲成虫的驱避和拒食活性

为了寻找茶丽纹象甲Myllocerinus aurolineatus Voss无公害防治新途径,采用行为生测法测定了19种植物精油对茶丽纹象甲的驱避和拒食活性。结果表明:大蒜油allitridi、芸香(Cantleyt corniculata(Becc)Howard)油、丹参(Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge.)、穿心莲(Andrographis paniculata(Burm.f.)Nees)、艾叶(Artemisia argyi Levl.et Vant.)、薰衣草(Lavender angustifolia Mill.)、何首乌(Fallopia multiflora(Thunb.)Harald.)、苦参(Sophora flavescens Alt.)、黄岑(Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi)、益母草(Leonurus heterophyllus Sweet)和金银花(Lonicera Japonica Thunb.)提取物对象甲的雄性和(或)雌性具有驱避活性。其中,大蒜油、丹参、何首乌和苦参又分别对象甲的雌性或雄性具有显著的选择性拒食活性;与对照相比,芸香油和金银花提取物对象甲具有非选择性拒食活性,而大蒜油和益母草提取物会显著提高象甲的取食量。艾叶、薰衣草和黄岑提取物对象甲仅表现出一定的驱避活性,未表现出拒食活性。与对照相比,穿心莲提取物对象甲具有显著的引诱作用。本研究证明芸香油、丹参、何首乌、苦参和金银花5种物质对象甲具有多方面的作用活性,具有很好的研究价值和实践意义。     

九种植物精油对腌肉及咸鱼害虫大头金蝇的杀卵作用

为开发腌肉和咸鱼害蝇的安全性杀卵剂,采用改进的浸卵法,进行了9种植物精油对大头金蝇的杀卵活性测定.结果表明:肉桂、丁香、八角茴香3种植物精油较为有效,它们的杀卵毒力(LC50)依次为0.428、1.605和2.489mg.ml-1,以肉桂油的毒力最强.通过GC/MC成分分析,从肉桂油检出22个成分,主成分桂皮醛占92.33%.合成桂皮醛(含量97.33%)的毒力为0.281mg.ml-1,略高于肉桂油,表明桂皮醛是肉桂油的主要杀卵活性成分,可替代肉桂油作为害蝇杀卵剂利用.     

Biocides formulation of essential oils having antimicrobial activity

Essential oils of fennel, peppermint, caraway, eucalyptus, geranium and lemon were tested for their antimicrobial activities against some plant pathogenic micro-organisms (Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternate, Penicilium italicum Penicilium digitatum and Botyritus cinerea). Essential oils of fennel, peppermint, caraway were selected as an active ingredient for the formulation of biocides due to their efficiency in controlling the tested micro-organisms. Successful emulsifiable concentrates (biocides) were prepared from these oils using different emulsifiers (Emulgator B.L.M. Tween20 and Tween80) and different fixed oils (sesame, olive, cotton and soybean oils). Physico-chemical properties of the formulated biocide (spontaneous emulsification, emulsion stability test, cold stability and heat stability tests as well as viscosity, surface tension and pH) were measured. The prepared biocides were ready to be tested for application in a future work as a safe pesticide against different pathogens.     

Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils of Salvia officinalis aerial parts as affected by diurnal variations

The main objective of this work is to evaluate the impact of the diurnal variation on the essential oil (EO) of Salvia officinalis and on their antioxidant, antifungal and insecticidal potentials. Obtained results showed that the chemical composition of EOs of sage varied significantly during the day. For the EO, the 7 am extract was characterized by the most significant antiradical activity. The EOs of 12 and 5 pm used at a dose of 10 μL were found to have the most effective potential to inhibit the growth of Botrytis cinerea whereas, the EO of 5 pm used at the same dose (10 μL) was the most effective against Fusarium sambucinum. For the fumigant test, the EO from 7 am had the highest activity against Spodoptera littoralis. The EO of 12 pm had the largest repellency activity against Trogoderma granarium. In addition, the EO from 7 am belongs to the repulsive class III, those of 12 and 5 pm belong to the repulsive class IV. The results of this study indicate how to optimize the best harvesting hour to obtain extracts characterized by the best yield of active compounds and by the more effective biological activity.     

Comparison of bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of 13 essential oils against strains with varying sensitivity to antibiotics

Aims:  To compare the bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of 13 chemotyped essential oils (EO) on 65 bacteria with varying sensitivity to antibiotics.
Methods and Results:  Fifty-five bacterial strains were tested with two methods used for evaluation of antimicrobial activity (CLSI recommendations): the agar dilution method and the time-killing curve method. EO containing aldehydes ( Cinnamomum verum bark and Cymbopogon citratus ), phenols ( Origanum compactum , Trachyspermum ammi , Thymus satureioides , Eugenia caryophyllus and Cinnamomum verum leaf) showed the highest antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) <2% (v/v) against all strains except Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Alcohol-based EO ( Melaleuca alternifolia , Cymbopogon martinii and Lavandula angustifolia ) exhibited varying degrees of activity depending on Gram status. EO containing 1·8-cineole and hydrocarbons ( Eucalyptus globulus , Melaleuca cajeputii and Citrus sinensis ) had MIC_90% ≥ 10% (v/v). Against P. aeruginosa , only C. verum bark and O. compactum presented MIC ≤2% (v/v). Cinnamomum verum bark, O. compactum , T. satureioides , C. verum leaf and M. alternifolia were bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at concentrations ranging from to 0·31% to 10% (v/v) after 1 h of contact. Cinnamomum verum bark and O. compactum were bactericidal against P. aeruginosa within 5 min at concentrations <2% (v/v).
Conclusions:  Cinnamomum verum bark had the highest antimicrobial activity, particularly against resistant strains.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of EO on nosocomial antibiotic-resistant strains.     

Antifungal activity of Juniperus essential oils against dermatophyte, Aspergillus and Candida strains

AIMS: The increasing resistance to antifungal compounds and the reduced number of available drugs led us to search therapeutic alternatives among aromatic plants and their essential oils, empirically used by antifungal proprieties. In this work the authors report on the antifungal activity of Juniperus essential oils (Juniperus communis ssp. alpina, J. oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus and J. turbinata). METHODS AND RESULTS: Antifungal activity was evaluated by determination of MIC and MLC values, using a macrodilution method (NCCLS protocols), on clinical and type strains of Candida, Aspergillus and dermatophytes. The composition of the oils was ascertained by GC and GC/MS analysis. All essential oils inhibited test dermatophyte strains. The oil from leaves of J. oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus is the most active, with MIC and MLC values ranging from 0.08-0.16 microl ml(-1) to 0.08-0.32 microl ml(-1), respectively. This oil is mainly composed of alpha-pinene (65.5%) and delta-3-carene (5.7%). CONCLUSIONS: J. oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus leaf oil proved to be an emergent alternative as antifungal agent against dermatophyte strains. delta-3-Carene, was shown to be a fundamental compound for this activity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Results support that essential oils or some of their constituents may be useful in the clinical management of fungal infections, justifying future clinical trials to validate their use as therapeutic alternatives for dermatophytosis.     

Antifungal activity of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) essential oil and thymol against moulds from damp dwellings

AIMS: To characterize antifungal activities of essential oil of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and pure thymol, as comparative substance, on different mould species isolated from damp dwellings. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty samples of wall scrapes were collected from damp dwellings in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The members of the following mould genera were recovered from the samples: Aspergillus (44%), Penicillium (18%) Alternaria, Ulocladium, Absidia and Mucor (8%) Cladosporium, Trichoderma and Rhizopus (6%), and Chaetomium (2%). Two strains of Stachybotrys chartarum were isolated from damp dwellings in Slovakia. Antifungal activities of the thyme essential oil, which contains p-cymene (36.5%), thymol (33.0%) and 1,8-cineole (11.3%) as main components, and pure thymol were determined by the dilution method and exposure to vaporous phase of the oil. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of both thymol and essential oil were bellow 20 microg ml(-1), except for Mucor spp. (50.20 microg ml(-1)). Thymol exhibited approximately three-times stronger inhibition than essential oil of thyme. The vaporous phase of the thyme essential oil (82 microg l(-1)) in glass chambers strongly suppressed the sporulation of moulds during 60 days of exposure. CONCLUSION: The thyme essential oil possesses a wide range spectrum of fungicidal activity. The vaporous phase of the oil exhibited long-lasting suppressive activity on moulds from damp dwellings. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Essential oil of thyme and thymol could be used for disinfection of mouldy walls in the dwellings in low concentration.     

In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial efficacy of essential oils and individual compounds against Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae

Aim

To evaluate the antimicrobial effects of essential oils (EOs) from cassia, basil, geranium, lemongrass, cumin and thyme, as well as their major components, against Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae; to investigate morphological changes in hyphae and sporangia in response to treatment with cinnamaldehyde; and to further evaluate potential biocontrol capacities against tobacco black shank under greenhouse conditions.

Methods and Results

The results revealed that the extent of mycelial growth inhibition was primarily dependent on the composition and concentration of the EOs and the structure of individual compounds. Cinnamaldehyde had a significantly higher inhibitory effect on mycelial growth, formation of sporangia, and production and germination of zoospores in P. parasitica var. nicotianae in vitro, achieving complete inhibition of these phenotypes at 72, 36, 36 and 18 mg l^?1, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that cinnamaldehyde can cause considerable morphological degenerations of hyphae and sporangia such as cytoplasmic coagulation, shrivelled mycelia and sporangia aggregates and swelling and lysis of mycelia and sporangia walls. In vivo assays with cinnamaldehyde demonstrated that this compound afforded protective effect against tobacco black shank under greenhouse conditions in susceptible tobacco plants.

Conclusions

The results of in vitro and in vivo bioassays, together with SEM imaging of the microstructure of P. parasitica var. nicotianae supported the possibility of using cinnamaldehyde as a potent natural biofungicide in the greenhouse.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This study provides a theoretical basis for the potential use of cinnamaldehyde as commercial agents or lead compounds that can be exploited as commercial biofungicides in the protection of tobacco plants from P. parasitica var. nicotianae infection.     

In vitro evaluation of the activity of microencapsulated carvacrol against Escherichia coli with K88 pili

Aims: The aim of the current study is to develop encapsulation of essential oils for oral delivery to the small intestine of pigs in order to retain their antimicrobial activity. Methods and Results: Carvacrol was used as a model essential oil and successfully encapsulated in microcapsules made from Ca‐alginate hydrogel using an emulsion–extrusion technology with high encapsulation efficiency. This encapsulation method did not compromise the antimicrobial activity when tested against Escherichia coli K88 in a culture medium, as well as in a simulated gastrointestinal model. In the simulated gastrointestinal model, <20% of encapsulated carvacrol was released in the simulated gastric fluid; the rest was nearly completely released in the intestinal fluid after 6 h of incubation. Conclusions: Encapsulation in Ca‐alginate microcapsules could effectively reduce the early absorption of carvacrol in the upper gastrointestinal tract after oral administration, therefore, retains its potential antibacterial activity for the small intestine. Significance and Impact of the Study: The developed encapsulation method is expected to be suitable for encapsulation of other essential oils. The results from this study would increase the likelihood of success in the application of essential oils as antimicrobial agents for controlling enteric diseases in pigs.     

Study of antifungal activities of seven essential oils from some Iranian medicinal plants against various postharvest phytopathogenic fungi

The aim of this study was to find the antifungal activities of seven essential oils from some Iranian medicinal plants that have maximum (100%) inhibition effect on the mycelium growth of postharvest phytopathogenic fungi. Among 20 examined species belonging to three families, only 7 species could stop the mycelium growth of phytopathogenic fungi. The selected plants include Trachyspermum ammi, Zataria multiflora Boiss., Satureia hortensis, Caryophillum aromaticus, Menthe piperita, Cuminum cyminum L. and Carum carvi, and fungi include Aspergillus flavus, Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium italicum, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium commune, Rhizopus stolonifer and Rhizopus lyococcus. The results showed that the essential oil of these plants could stop the mycelium growth at 500 ppm, but could not completely inhibit the spore germination, however reduced the spore germination to 80–90%. Among the fungi Rhizopus stolonifer and Rhizopus lyococcus are more resistant to the inhibition effects of essential oils. Among the plants, Cuminum cyminum L. and Carum carvi were slightly weaker than other plants. Also except for Cuminum cyminum L. and Carum carvi, the essential oils of other plants had fungicide effect while these two plants in most cases had fugistatic effect. The results showed that these essential oils can be used as an effective alternative control method.     

Anti-biofilm activity of LC-MS based Solanum nigrum essential oils against multi drug resistant biofilm forming P. mirabilis

Urinary tract infections are second most important diseases worldwide due to the increased amount of antibiotic resistant microbes. Among the Gram negative bacteria, P. mirabilis is the dominant biofilm producer in urinary tract infections next to E. coli. Biofilm is a process that produced self-matrix of more virulence pathogens on colloidal surfaces. Based on the above fact, this study was concentrated to inhibit the P. mirabilis biofilm formation by various in-vitro experiments. In the current study, the anti-biofilm effect of essential oils was recovered from the medicinal plant of Solanum nigrum, and confirmed the available essential oils by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis. The excellent anti-microbial activity and minimum biofilm inhibition concentration of the essential oils against P. mirabilis was indicated at 200 µg/mL. The absence of viability and altered exopolysaccharide structure of treated cells were showed by biofilm metabolic assay and phenol–sulphuric acid method. The fluorescence differentiation of P. mirabilis treated cells was showed with more damages by confocal laser scanning electron microscope. Further, more morphological changes of essential oils treated cells were differentiated from normal cells by scanning electron microscope. Altogether, the results were reported that the S. nigrum essential oils have anti-biofilm ability.     

植物精油对锈赤扁谷盗成虫熏蒸毒杀作用研究

为明确适用于防治锈赤扁谷盗的植物精油种类及其用量,本试验采用拌粮密闭熏蒸法,比较23种植物精油对锈赤扁谷盗成虫熏蒸毒杀活性差异,从中筛选出作用效果较好的精油种类进行熏蒸毒力测定。通过二次筛选结果表明,大蒜与芥末精油对锈赤扁谷盗成虫具有明显的熏蒸毒杀作用。进一步的毒力测试结果表明,在24 h、48 h、72 h处理时间下,大蒜精油对锈赤扁谷盗成虫的LC_(50)值分别为0.7827、0.7222、0.6478μL/L,而芥末精油在相同处理时间条件下的LC_(50)值分别为2.7581、2.6117及2.4619μL/L,大蒜精油对锈赤扁谷盗具有更强的熏蒸毒杀活性。