Cell Attachment Inhibition and Anti-biofilm Activity of Syzygium aromaticum, Cuminum cyminum and Piper nigrum Essential Oils Against Pathogenic Bacteria

AbstractBiofilms are complex communities of microorganisms attached to the surface. Cells associated with biofilms differ phenotypically and physiologically from planktonic cells which make them more resistant to conventional antimicrobial agents. In this study antibiofilm activity of three essential oils such as Syzygium aromaticum, Cuminum cyminum and Piper nigrum were assessed against two Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (MTCC 40), Salmonella spp. (MTCC 1163) and one Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 7443). Oil dilutions are achieved using sloppy agar as a stabilizer. Inhibition of cell attachment and antibiofilm activity were assessed using crystal violet assay. All the three oils inhibited cell attachment on the wells of a microtiter plate with the mean value of > 50% each. In contrast, inhibition of preformed biofilm was difficult by all the three (Syzygium aromaticum, Cuminum cyminum and Piper nigrum) oils. According to data analysis, S. aromaticum oil proved to be more significant (p