| Summary: | The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of ajwain oil on multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae
isolated from human faeces, the mode of action, and the active components. The studies also include the methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The ajwain oil showed broad spectrum and strong antibacterial activity against all the bacteria
tested. The ajwain oil contained at least nine chemical compounds, and thymol was shown to be the most active component
against all tested bacteria. Time-kill assay showed bactericidal effect and over 2 log reduction of MRSA and MDR
Enterobacteriaceae after exposure to the ajwain oil for 30 and 10 minutes, respectively (1x, 2x, and 4x MIC). The scanning
electron micrograph of MRSA and MDR Escherichia coli demonstrated bacterial cellular destruction after one-hour exposure to
the 1x MIC of ajwain oil. Our results suggest that the application of ajwain oil may have potential for control and treatment of
antibiotic resistant bacteria.
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