SVOA Microbiology

Fabio C. Moreira¹, José Thyálisson da C. Silva¹, Regivânia L. Silva¹, Janaina de S. Bezerra², Cícera Natalia F. Leite Gondim¹, Germana de Alencar M. Luz³, Paula Patrícia M. Cordeiro¹, Adrielson J. da Silva¹, Francisco Sydney H. Félix⁴, Andrelina Noronha C. de Souza⁴, Maria Eloyse de M. Sousa¹, Olívia Caroline M. de Moura⁵, Luís Pereira-de-Morais¹, Simone G. de Sousa¹, Rizelle de O. Barros⁵, Lucas Yure S. da Silva¹, Gabriel G. Alencar¹, Janaína E. Rocha¹, Henrique Douglas M. Coutinho¹, José W. Almeida-Bezerra^1*

¹Regional University of Cariri, Crato – CE, Brazil.

²Doctor Lea o Sampaio University Center, Juazeiro do Norte - CE, Brazil.

³Higher Education Association of Piauí – AESPI, Teresina – PI, Brazil.

⁴State University of Ceara , Fortaleza – CE, Brazil.

⁵Federal University of Cariri, Crato – CE, Brazil.

*Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. Jose Weverton Almeida-Bezerra, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, 63105-000, Crato, CE, Brazil.

https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMB.2025.06.016

Received: July 31, 2025

Published: September 15, 2025

Citation: Moreira MC, Moreira FC, Silva JTC, Silva RL, Bezerra JS, Gondim CNFL, Luz GAM, Cordeiro PPM, Silva AJ, Felix FSH, Souza ANC, Sousa MEM, Moura OCM, Pereira-de-Morais L, Sousa SG, Barros RO, Silva LYS, Alencar GG, Rocha JE, Coutinho HDM, Almeida-Bezerra JW. Antibacterial and Potentiating Activity of the Essential Oil of Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle (Rutaceae). SVOA Microbiology 2025, 6:5, 137-142. doi:10.58624/SVOAMB.2025.06.016

Abstract

The growing problem of bacterial resistance to multiple drugs threatens the effectiveness of conventional treatments and increases the burden of hospital-acquired infections, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs. This scenario encourages the search for alternative therapies, such as essential oils from the Rutaceae family, including Citrus aurantiifolia (Mexican lime), which are recognized for their antibacterial potential. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Citrus aurantiifolia essential oil (CAEO) against standard and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, as well as to assess its synergistic effects when combined with clinically used antibiotics. The CAEO was commercially obtained, and its inhibitory activity was assessed through the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), with values ranging from 0.5 to 512 μg/mL. Interactions with antibiotics were evaluated using subinhibitory concentrations, and results were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. The findings showed that CAEO did not exhibit significant antibacterial activity. Moreover, no relevant potentiating effect was observed in combination with antibiotics. The combination with gentamicin against S. aureus had little effect, as the MIC of the antibiotic increased.

Keywords: Phytotherapy, In Vitro Study, Microbial Resistance.