Essential oils capable of killing superbugs, research finds

MARESE McDONAGH
The Irish Times - Tuesday, December 15, 2009

FOR MANY PEOPLE essential oils are associated with sweet-smelling rooms or a relaxing bath, but their antibacterial components make them “highly efficient” in the treatment of so-called hospital “superbugs”, according to new research.

Scientists based at Sligo Institute of Technology have discovered that some essential oils are capable of killing the most resistant bacteria including MRSA as well as Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL).

Superbugs, which have been attributed to overcrowding and poor hygiene in hospitals, are potentially life threatening, especially for people already frail due to illness.

Describing the findings as “very promising”, the research team, which includes staff from the Department of Microbiology at Sligo General Hospital, said the oils were effective against bacteria which were resistant to conventional antibiotics.

PhD student Julien Thibault said most antibiotics were “useless” in the fight against superbugs because of their enzyme content. Those antibiotics which do have an effect are so toxic that they are administered as a last resort because of risks to, for example, liver and kidney, he explained.

While essential oils are widely available in a range of outlets including pharmacies, health stores and supermarkets and are popular for use as antiseptic treatments and in aromatic oil burners, there has been little focus until now on their impact on resistant bacteria.

Essential oils are composed of plant extracts which generally contain a large number of chemicals, some of which have antibacterial properties.

The researchers tested a large range of oils and their components, and found that among the most effective at killing the MRSA, VRE and ESBL strains were clove, lemongrass, citronella, thyme, oregano, cinnamon while the popular tea tree oil was also found the be “quite effective”.

“The list is not exhaustive – a large majority of the oils tested showed activity at relatively low concentrations,” said Mr Thibault.

He said that while the results were promising, further work was needed to provide viable alternatives to patients. “This is a starting point,” he said, adding that caution was always needed when using essential oils.

Dr Fiona McArdle from Sligo IT, the supervisor on the project, said they were hoping to do further research so that the “huge potential” in the use of natural products in the treatment and eradication of superbugs could be exploited.

Mr Thibault said it had already been established that essential oils as vapour did have some antibacterial properties.
http://itsligo.ie/research-innovation/research/research-projects/
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2009/1215/1224260710594.html

Himalayan oregano can wipe out hospital super bug

THE OREGANO that grows wild in the Himalayas has, traditionally, been disregarded by local people. In the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh it's known as bekaar gahaas – 'useless grass': even cows and goats don't eat it. Herb collectors, who make a living harvesting wild plants, concentrate on the more valuable medicinal plants, which are now threatened by over-exploitation.

A new project, partnering researchers at the University of the West of England (UWE) with organisations in India, is hoping to persuade collectors and buyers that, far from useless, oregano has real commercial potential – based on its remarkable antibacterial properties, particularly against the hospital ‘superbug’ MRSA. The project is one of five winners, out of 400 global entrants, of a 2008 SEED award – a UN and IUCN (International Union for the Conversation of Nature) -led scheme aimed at promoting local, sustainable enterprises in developing countries.

Commenting on the SEED Awards, Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), said: "The SEED Awards again underline that creative and entrepreneurial solutions to many of the pressing challenges facing the world are being found. It is now vital that these shining examples are federated and mainstreamed across communities and countries to maximize their undoubted and potentially significant impact."

The Oregano against MRSA project is one of a series of initiatives aimed at providing communities in Himachal Pradesh with income from sustainable, non-timber forest products; Origanum vulgare is a relatively common herb that grows in high-altitude meadows throughout the Himalayan region, and can be harvested sustainably. Recent research by UWE and SGS Herbals in Delhi has shown that the essential oil of Himalayan oregano contains potent antibacterial properties, and is effective at killing the MRSA bacterium even at very low concentrations.


One of the lead partners of the project in India, Biolaya Organics, develops projects aimed at conserving endangered medicinal herbs, by cultivating threatened species, and by sustainable collection and value addition of more common species.
Ben Heron, of Biolaya Organics, explains: "We started working with oregano because it is a species that, if managed properly, can be collected year after year without depleting the population in the wild. Our aim is to be able to pay the local herb collectors the equivalent amount that they would normally earn from collecting endangered medicinal herb species so that they become less dependent on the extraction of these plants for their livelihoods.

We started working with oregano because it is a species that, if managed properly, can be collected year after year without depleting the population in the wild.

Ben Heron, "It has been known for some time that Mediterranean oregano oil is a powerful antimicrobial, which is said to be due to the high content of a compound called carvacol. As far as we know nobody had tested the carvacol content of Himalayan oregano oil before, so we teamed up with SGS in Delhi to conduct tests and found that it was equally as potent as the Mediterranean variety.
Heron continued: “Further tests in the SGS laboratory found that the Himalayan oregano oil killed MRSA more effectively than all 18 antibiotics that it was compared against. We have recently linked up with UWE’s microbiology department who are now carrying out more rigorous tests, and hope to publish the results in a scientific journal."

Professor Vyv Salisbury, of UWE's Centre for Research in Biomedicine (CRIB), said: "We have done a few preliminary tests and have found that the essential oil from the oregano kills MRSA at a dilution 1 to 1,000. The tests show that the oil kills MRSA both as a liquid and as a vapour and its antimicrobial activity is not diminished by heating in boiling water. This is exciting as it also means that we could consider using the oil to develop disinfectant washing powders. We now aim to conduct a focused academic study in partnership with SGS labs in Delhi that we hope will give the project the academic credibility needed to market the oil.

She added: "We hope that our study will help take the project to the next stage where, with the help of UWE's Research, Business and Innovation department we find a business partner to help us produce a range of products that we can market for medical and domestic settings. Once we are able to start providing a sustainable income for villages in Kullu, the scope for up-scaling and replication in other parts of the Himalayan region is enormous."

Image: SEED
http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/business/archives/2008/essential_oregano_Dec.cfm

Himalayan oregano can wipe out hospital super bug: Research
April 21st, 2009 - 8:13 pm ICT by ANI
Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Apr. 21 (ANI): Natural oil extracted from Himalayan oregano can help in wiping out deadly hospital super bug MRSA, a new research has claimed.

“For the last 2-3 years, we have been researching its (Oregano) antibacterial properties, in particular against the hospital infections that have become resistant to antibiotics and we have found that this is a very effective antibacterial and anti fungal agent,” said Ben Heron, Senior Researcher at Himachal Pradsh based Biolaya Organics.

The joint research was done by the Bristol University, Biolaya Organics, Jagriti, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development and SGS India.

The research proved that essential oil of oregano contains potent antibacterial properties and is effective at killing the ’super bug’ MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria that has become a serious health problem in hospitals in the West.

They have discovered that the herb, commonly used in cooking, could eradicate the deadly infection.

Another objective of the project is also to provide livelihood to rural farmers and herbs collectors.

“The ultimate idea is to develop a sustainable harvesting management plan for this particular specie, develop entrepreneurship from this particular specie and finally go for the sustainable development of the farmers in the hilly region,” said Dr. S.S. Samant, senior scientist, G.B.Pant Institute of the Himalayan Environment and Development, Kullu.

Preliminary research into the oil found that tiny doses are capable of wiping out fungi and bacteria, including MRSA.

Origanum Vulgare is a relatively common herb that grows in high altitude meadows throughout the Himalayan region, yet it is perceived by many villagers to have no culinary, medicinal or economic value.

However, in Kullu, oregano is often referred to as ‘bekaar ghaas’ (useless grass). (ANI)
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/himalayan-oregano-can-wipe-out-hospital-super-bug-research_100182705.html