Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596342
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cymbopogon martinii essential oil: chemical characterization, effects on Propionibacterium acnes and immune response in lymphocytes

BF Murbach Teles Andrade
1   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Bioscience of Botucatu, Rua Prof. Dr. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, s/n°, 18618 – 689, Botucatu, Brazil
,
L Nunes Barbosa
1   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Bioscience of Botucatu, Rua Prof. Dr. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, s/n°, 18618 – 689, Botucatu, Brazil
,
F Bérgamo Alves
1   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Bioscience of Botucatu, Rua Prof. Dr. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, s/n°, 18618 – 689, Botucatu, Brazil
,
M Albano
1   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Bioscience of Botucatu, Rua Prof. Dr. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, s/n°, 18618 – 689, Botucatu, Brazil
,
R Keller Fernandes
1   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Bioscience of Botucatu, Rua Prof. Dr. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, s/n°, 18618 – 689, Botucatu, Brazil
,
C Mendonça Gorgulho
1   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Bioscience of Botucatu, Rua Prof. Dr. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, s/n°, 18618 – 689, Botucatu, Brazil
,
A Fernandes Júnior
1   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Bioscience of Botucatu, Rua Prof. Dr. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, s/n°, 18618 – 689, Botucatu, Brazil
,
H Brüggemann
2   Department of Biomedicine, Bartholins Allé 6 building 1242, 459, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)

Also available at
 

Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats var. motia essential oil (EO) is usually isolated by steam distillation of the freshly harvested leaves or partially dried leaves [1]. Palmarosa has been widely used in aromatherapy as a tonic skin due its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity. It has also been used in Ayurvedic medicine for skin problems and to relieve pain [1]. Propionibacterium acnes is the microorganism associated with the pathogenesis of acne; it is a gram-positive bacteria and anaerobic opportunistic [2] and is an important factor in the activation of innate immunity in acne [3]. The aim of this research was to evaluate if C. martinii EO and its major compound, geraniol (constitute ≈ 85% of the EO), are able to modify the immune stimulation caused by P. acnes. We determined the antibacterial activity of C. martinii EO and geraniol for P. acnes in vitro. Sensitivity test broth micro dilution was performed and phenotypic changes were confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and we investigated if the presence of C. martinii EO and geraniol modify the effect of P. acnes in the differentiation of T-cells. We determined the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) to P. acnes ATCC 11828 (type II) and ATCC 6919 (type IA) [See Table 1]. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from six volunteers were infected with P. acnes strains with a multiplicity of infection = 3 and simultaneously treated with 3 different doses of C. martinii EO and geraniol, respectively. The treatments did not modulate the production of Interferon-gamma and Interleukin-17 in CD4 + cells in PBMC's infected with P. acnes. Given these preliminary results, natural compounds tested showed antimicrobial activity against P. acnes strains and they do not modulate P. acnes- stimulated lymphocytes T helper 1 and Th17 immune response. P. acnes showed differences in sensibility test depending of subtype and probably geraniol is the responsible compound for the antimicrobial activity of the EO of C. martinii.

Tab. 1: Minimum inhibitory concentration of C. martinii EO and geraniol in micro dilution test to P. acnes

P. acnes Strains

MIC of C. martinii EO (µg/mL)

MIC of Geraniol (µg/mL)

ATCC 11828

700

800

ATCC 6919

1500

1500

Acknowledgements: grant 2015/12906 – 0, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

Keywords: Cymbopogon martinii, geraniol, essential oil, P. acnes, lymphocyte.

References:

[1] Rajeswara Rao B R. Biomass and essential oil yields of rainfed palmarosa (Cymbopogon martiniii (Roxb.) Wats. var. motia Burk.) supplied with different levels of organic manure and fertilizer nitrogen in semi-arid tropical climate. Ind Crops Prod 2001; 14: 171 – 178

[2] Kistowska M. et al. Propionibacterium acnes Promotes Th17 and Th17/Th1 Responses in Acne Patients. J Invest Dermatol 2014; 135: 110 – 118

[3] Christensen G J and Brüggemann H. Bacterial skin commensals and their role as host guardians. Benef Microbes 2014; 5: 201 – 215