Abstract
The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of Australian tea tree oil, cajuput oil,
niaouli oil, kanuka oil and manuka oil as well as of a β-triketone complex isolated
from manuka oil were investigated in a constituent-oriented study. The compositions
of the oils were analysed by capillary GLC and GLC-MS. The MICs for sixteen different
microorganisms were determined applying the broth dilution method. Australian tea
tree oil showed the best overall antimicrobial effect. The best inhibitory effects
on Gram-positive bacteria and dermatophytes were achieved with manuka oil due to its
β-triketone content.
Abbreviations
MIC:minimal inhibitory concentrationCFU:colony forming unitBHIB:brain heart infusion
brothMHB:Müller Hinton brothSDA:Sabouraud dextrose agarSDB:Sabouraud dextrose brothTSA:trypticase
soy agarTSB:trypticase soy broth
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Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Stahl-Biskup
Institut für Pharmazie Abteilung für Pharmazeutische Biologie Universität Hamburg
Bundesstr. 43
20146 Hamburg
Germany
eMail: stahl-biskup@chemie.chemie.uni-hamburg.de
Telefon: +49 40-42838 3895