Antimicrobial Properties of Essential Oil Extracted from Azadirachta indica Leaves on Common Skin Pathogens

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels and spreading globally at an alarming rate
mainly due to misuse and over prescription of antibiotics. Hence, scientists are studying medicinal
plants to find potential alternatives in reducing the antibiotic resistance. In this study, Azadirachta
indica essential oil was extracted from dried leaves due to several findings reported that the
phytochemicals present in A. indica leaves had the ability to treat common skin pathogens
including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes,
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
epidermidis (MRSE). The results showed that the extracted A. indica essential oil had better
antimicrobial effects on MRSA and MRSE compared to cefoxitin as a reference point. The
extracted oil also had significant antimicrobial activity when tested against P. acnes. Stability of
the extracted essential oil was studied to confirm the stability of phytochemicals in the extracted
A. indica essential oil at 4ºC for a month and the results were similar to the freshly extracted A.
indica essential oil.