Khaberni - A study conducted by Polish scientists has shown that some types of essential oils extracted from medicinal plants can be an alternative to antibiotics in combating bacterial infections.
Scientists at Wroclaw Medical University during the study aimed to understand the effects of essential oils such as thyme and rosemary on dangerous Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and tested the effects of these oils on clinical strains of bacteria causing skin infections and wounds, including strains resistant to antibiotics, and used a model that simulates a real wound. It turned out that thyme oil in such an environment inhibits the growth of bacteria much more effectively than in a normal nutrient medium, while on the contrary, rosemary oil loses some of its effectiveness.
The researchers proved that essential oils work through multiple mechanisms: they disrupt the structure of bacterial biofilms, prevent the adhesion of bacteria to tissues, and inhibit their proliferation. Furthermore, different strains of Staphylococcus aureus responded to essential oils variably, ranging from high sensitivity to near-complete resistance, and according to the scientists, this emphasizes the need to consider the conditions of the infection and the individual characteristics of the disease.
The scientists pointed out that essential oils cannot be considered a comprehensive alternative to antibiotics, but with precise scientific methodology and standardized methods, they can become an important natural tool to enhance anti-bacterial treatment and reduce the risk of drug resistance.
