Sunday 28 September 2014
Does Oregano Oil Have an Antibiotic Effect
Abstract
The objective: My research was to determine if Oregano oil works as an antibiotic on the Bacillus cereus bacteria because there are claims on the Internet that
Oregano oil, through its primary ingredient carvacrol, is effective as an antibiotic on the majority of bacteria. However, my hypothesis is that Oregano oil does not
have an antibiotic effect on the Bacillus cereus bacteria.
Methods/Materials
Following the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion Method, I placed a filter paper disk soaked in Oregano oil (Carvacrol 6 mg), five other disks with known antibiotics
(Chloramphenicol 30 mcg, Penicillin 10 mcg, Gentamycin 10 mcg, Ampicillin 10 mcg and Tetracycline 30 mcg) and a control disk in a petri dish with the Bacillus cereus
culture in a nutrient agar solution. I covered the petri dish and let it stand at room temperature. I then measured any growth inhibition zones around these disks
after 24, 48 and 72 hours.
Results
There was no growth inhibition zone around the disk with Oregano oil. However, growth inhibition zones were found around the following disks: Chloramphenicol (2.5
cm), Gentamycin (2.0 cm), and Tetracycline (1.0 cm). These zones appeared after 48 hours and remained the same size after 72 hours. The disks coated with Penicillin
and Ampicillin did not have growth inhibition zones around them. Also, as expected, there was no growth inhibition zone around the control disk.
Conclusions/Discussion
My hypothesis is supported. Oregano oil does not have an antibiotic effect on the Bacillus cereus bacteria. We must, therefore, continue to be wary of any
generalized and unsubstantiated claims of the effectiveness of any herbal product like Oregano oil because these claims are not subject to review and approval from the
Food and Drug Administration. Self-medication by relying on these claims can have serious side effects in addition to the untreated original condition possibly
worsening. In the future, I would like to research and test Oregano oil on other bacteria such as E. coli and Staphylococcus. I can also conclude that not all
antibiotics are effective against the Bacillus cereus bacteria.
This experiment was about researching and testing whether Oregano oil had an antibiotic effect on the Bacillus cereus bacteria.
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