Bioactivities of Nutmeg Essential Oils: Their Effect on Growth and Abnormality of Oral Cavity Microbes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2026.11609Keywords:
Nutmeg, Essential oil, Antibacterial activity, Antifungal activity, BotanicalsAbstract
Nutmeg essential oils (EOs) possess significant antibacterial and antifungal activities. This study evaluated the effects of EOs from nutmeg leaves (LEO), seed (SEO), and mace (MEO) on the growth of microorganisms. The aim of the study was to evaluate nutmeg essential oils ability to inhibit microbial growth and alter cell structures. Each EO was tested at 4 concentrations (500, 250, 150 and 77 mg/mL) against 3 Gram-positive bacteria - Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Streptococcus sanguinis - and the opportunistic fungus Candida albicans. Antimicrobial activity was assessed through growth inhibition assays, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and growth rate analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe cell morphology changes, while GC-MS analysis identified chemical composition. β-pinene, sabinene, D-limonene, terpinen-4-ol and myristicin were major components in nutmeg oil. All EOs inhibited microbial growth and prevented progression into the logarithmic phase. MIC varied between 75 and 300 mg/mL. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for bacteria were in the range of 150 - 300 mg/mL, while that for fungi were 75 - 150 mg/mL. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were 300 to 600 mg/mL and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) was 150 mg/mL. Overall nutmeg EOs exhibited moderate activity, producing inhibition zones greater than 8 mm. Microbial counts declined within 4 h of exposure and continued decreasing over 24 h. SEM revealed cell lysis, surface wrinkling, and disrupted cell aggregates. These findings indicate that nutmeg EOs induce cell death and inhibit rapid microbial proliferation through cell lysis, supporting their potential as safe, plant-based alternatives for oral infection management.
HIGHLIGHTS
- This research provides comparative look at commercially available essential oils from nutmeg seed, leaves, and mace against major oral pathogens.
- It examining both how these oils inhibit microbial growth and how they damage pathogen cells.
- The findings offer promising leads for developing safer and plant-based alternatives antimicrobials for oral treatment
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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