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Synergistic bactericidal activity of Eremanthus erythropappus oil or β-bisabolene with ampicillin against Staphylococcus aureus

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Abstract

The activity of Eremanthus erythropappus oil (EO) and some of its compounds and their potential synergistic interaction with ampicillin against different strains of Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. Determination of chemical composition of EO by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and bioguided chemical fractionation led to the identification of β-bisabolene as the main active compound. A synergistic bactericidal activity of EO or β-bisabolene with ampicillin against Staphylococcus aureus was observed in a time-kill assay. EO and β- bisabolene have the potential to restore the effectiveness of ampicillin against resistant S. aureus.

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Abbreviations

EO:

Eremanthus erythropappus oil

MHB:

Mueller-Hinton broth

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to Givaudan Roure do Basil (São Paulo, Brazil) for supplying the authentic volatile compounds. This work was supported by a FAPEMIG grant CBB-1106/03.

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Correspondence to Andréa M. A. Nascimento.

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Nascimento, A.M.A., Brandão, M.G.L., Oliveira, G.B. et al. Synergistic bactericidal activity of Eremanthus erythropappus oil or β-bisabolene with ampicillin against Staphylococcus aureus . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 92, 95–100 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-006-9139-x

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