Effect of Citronella Oil on Time Kill Profile, Leakage and Morphological Changes of<i>Propionibacterium acnes</i>

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of citronella oil (Java type) (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) on Propionibacterium acnes DMST 14916. Citronella oil compositions were determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Anti-P. acnes activity of citronella oil and its major components were also investigated. After exposure with P. acnes at various concentrations of citronella oil (0–100 μL/mL), time-kill profiles, pentose leakage and electron microscopic characteristics were determined. The GC/MS results revealed that the major constituents of the oil were citronellal, geraniol and citronellol. At all concentrations above Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs; 0.625μL/mL), this essential oil killed P. acnes in a dose-dependent manner. The intracellular materials leakage and electron microscopic characteristics evidenced that the major target sites of antibacterial activity appeared to be cell wall, cytoplasmic membrane and intracellular materials. Citronella oil exerted satisfactory bacteriostatic and bactericidal actions against P. acnes.