Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils of Different <i>Pinus</i> Species from Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Main Authors: Snježana Mirković (Author), Vanja Tadić (Author), Marina T. Milenković (Author), Dušan Ušjak (Author), Gordana Racić (Author), Dragica Bojović (Author), Ana Žugić (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16101331; 1999-4923
• Keywords: <i>Pinus</i> species; essential oils; GC; chemical composition; antimicrobial activity; synergy; Pharmacy and materia medica; RS1-441
• Source: Pharmaceutics, Vol 16, Iss 10, p 1331 (2024)

Background/Objectives: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has urged researchers to explore new antimicrobial agents, such as essential oils (EOs). The aim of this study was to examine chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the EOs from the needles and green cones of four <i>Pinus</i> species (<i>Pinus mugo</i> Turra., <i>P. nigra</i> J.F., <i>P. syilvestris</i> L., and <i>P. halepensis</i> Miller) from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Chemical profiles of EOs were assessed by gas chromatography, while microdilution method was used to test their antimicrobial activity. A synergistic action of EOs and gentamicin was investigated by the checkerboard assay. Results: The chemical composition of the tested EOs showed a high percentage of α-pinene, (<i>E</i>)-caryophyllene, limonene, germacrene D, myrcene, and δ-3-carene. EO from green cones of <i>P. sylvestris</i> showed high efficiency against <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>E. faecalis</i>. The MIC of <i>P. nigra</i> cones' EO was 100 μg/mL against <i>E. coli</i>. The EO of <i>P. halepensis</i> green cones demonstrated the strongest activity against <i>E. faecalis.</i> EOs of <i>P. halepensis</i> needles and green cones exhibited the highest activity against <i>C. albicans.</i> Further, synergistic interaction was detected in combination of the selected EOs/gentamicin toward <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. Conclusions: Among the tested EOs, oils of <i>P. sylvestris</i> cones and <i>P. halepensis</i> cones and needles showed the greatest antimicrobial activity. The same EOs and EO from <i>P. nigra</i> cones displayed synergistic potential in combination with gentamicin, supporting their utilization as antimicrobial agents alone or in combination with antibiotics, which is in line with their ethnopharmacological usage and circular bioeconomy principles.