ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF SELECTED MOROCCAN ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST THE HIGHLY VIRULENT JP2 CLONE OF AGGREGATIBACTER ACTINOMYCETEMCOMITANS

Objective: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ( Aa ) serotype b JP2 clone is a highly virulent strain, considered as a major etiologic agent in aggressive periodontitis in patients of African descent, such as Moroccan adolescents. Antibiotics have been and continue to be the only effective treatment of periodontal infections caused by this periodontal bacterium. However, today there is enough scientific evidence on the existence of an increased resistance of oral bacteria to antibiotics. Therefore, the search for new natural agents, that are safe and effective, such oils, has become a necessity. The present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activities of three selected essential oils from Moroccan aromatic medicinal plants ( Origanum compactum , Thymus vulgaris and Cymbopogon martinii ) against clinical Moroccan isolate of Aa JP2 strain. Methods: Antibacterial activity of essential oils was investigated using agar well diffusion method, then measured using broth microdilution method. Results: All the selected essential oils exhibited significant antibacterial activity on the highly pathogenic JP2 strain of Aa . Essential oil of Origanum compactum was found to be the most effective with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.03% (v/v) and a minimum bactericidal concentration value (MBC) of 0.07%. Conclusion: The present findings indicate the possibility of exploiting these essential oils as potential antimicrobial agents in treatment of aggressive periodontitis associated to this pathogen.