Zingiber officinale Roscoe essential oil: An alternative strategy in the development of novel antimicrobial agents against MDR bacteria

Essential oils (EOs) are synthesized by plants during secondary metabolism and contain volatile chemical compounds with potential antibacterial activity against different pathogens. Thus, exploring the antimicrobial activity of EOs is an attractive therapeutic strategy to treat serious diseases. In this study, the properties of Zingiber officinale EO, including the chemical composition, acute toxicity, as well as in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial effects were evaluated. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS) analyses revealed the presence of the following major phytocomponents: geranial (15.8%), neral (13.5%), 1.8-cineole (8.8%), camphene (6.6%), β-phellandrene (5.9%), and α-curcumene (3.7%). In vitro, Z. officinale EO exhibited antibacterial activity against 18 MDR Gram-negative bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 0.28 mg/mL to 1.09 mg/mL. Cell death was observed after 8 h of incubation by evaluating the decrease in viable cell counts for all the bacteria assessed. The integrity of the bacterial cell membrane was monitored, and protein leakage was observed with increasing concentrations of Z. officinale EO. Further in vivo (based on animal sepsis model) analyses revealed the antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, without detectable acute toxicity. Thus, Z. officinale EO exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against MDR Gram-negative bacteria, thereby making it a promising natural antimicrobial agent.