Multivariate characterization of essential oils for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli : a data-driven interpretation of experimental results

Kokalj, Meta (avtor), Supé Vide, Marsela (avtor), Schoss, Katja (avtor)

The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance emphasizes the urgent need for new and effective natural antimicrobial agents. This study assessed the antibacterial activity of twenty essential oils and one absolute against Escherichia coli and examined the relationship between their chemical composition and biological activity. The chemical profiles of the samples were determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and the resulting data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA), and partial least squares (PLS) methods to explore associations between composition and antibacterial activity. The results showed substantial variability among the tested essential oils, with those from Thymus vulgaris, Aniba rosaeodora, Syzygium aromaticum, Pimenta dioica, and the absolute of Evernia prunastri exhibiting the strongest activity. GC–MS analysis identified thymol, eugenol, and methyl atrarate as key bioactive constituents associated with strong antibacterial effects, while linalool, limonene, and α-terpineol were linked to moderate activity. Multivariate analyses provided further insight but were limited by data variability, highlighting compositional diversity rather than clear group separation. Overall, the findings demonstrate that essential oils are a promising source of natural antimicrobial agents and emphasise the importance of linking chemical composition with biological function to understand their potential therapeutic applications.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: essential oils, Escherichia coli, antimicrobial activity, GC–MS analysis, multivariate analysis, bioactive compounds
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FFA - Fakulteta za farmacijo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 29 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 31, iss. 2, art. 207
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179606
• UDK: 665.52
• ISSN pri članku: 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules31020207
• COBISS.SI-ID: 264352003
• Datum objave v RUL: 18.02.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Molecules
• Skrajšan naslov: Molecules
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 1420-3049
• COBISS.SI-ID: 18462981

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: Escherichia coli, protimikrobna aktivnost, GC-MS analiza, multivariatna analiza, bioaktivne spojine, eterična olja

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P1-0208
• Naslov: Farmacevtska kemija: načrtovanje, sinteza in vrednotenje učinkovin