Antibacterial effects of zinc oxide, rosin, and resin acids with special reference to their interactions

The growth inhibiting capacity of zinc oxide combined with ordinary rosin (Portuguese rosin), abietic acid or dehydroabietic acid was studied using two different methods. To mimic the actual treatment of wounds, circular tapes or sensitivity discs were placed on Müller-Hinton-agar plates that had been seeded with various facultative aerobic bacteria, and the zones of inhibition were measured. The agar dilution method was used to measure the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Inhibition of growth was restricted to Gram-positive facultative aerobic bacteria for the individual substances zinc oxide, Portuguese rosin, or resin acids, as well as for combinations of these. In general the combination of zinc oxide and dehydroabietic acid was a more potent antibacterial substance than the corresponding combination of zinc with rosin or abietic acid. These combinations commonly had synergistic antibacterial effects.