Antimicrobial activity of oil bitter orange

ABSTRACT

The oil of bitter orange was tested for its antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates of different bacterial and fungal species. The oil was shown to possess antimicrobial activities against multiply resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus [46 isolates], Escherichia coli [37 isolates] and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [36 isolates]. Among the tested bacteria, the Gram-positive isolates were more sensitive to the oil than the Gram-negative ones. The oil was shown to possess fungistatic and fungicidal properties towards clinical isolates of C and ida albicans as well as four clinical isolates of dermatophytes [two isolates of Epidermophyton floccosum and two isolates of Trichophyton rubrum]. The in vitro antifungal activity of the oil was found to be comparatively higher than its antibacterial activity. Preliminary clinical trials on the value of the oil in the treatment of dermatomycosis were promising