Surface Disinfection and Sanitizing Action of the Alcohol-Free Essential Oil-based Green Formulation

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Conventional disinfectants pose environmental and safety concerns.
• There is a need for effective, eco-friendly antimicrobial agents.
• Natural compounds offer potential for developing novel disinfectants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the surface disinfectant (SD) properties of a novel formulation.
• To assess the efficacy of the SD against various bacterial strains and biofilms.
• To compare the SD's effectiveness with vinegar.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of a surface disinfectant using Murraya koenigii EO, geraniol, and epsilon-L-Poly-Lysine (ɛ-PL).
• Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) testing against multiple bacterial strains.
• Surface disinfection tests on stainless steel contaminated with Escherichia sp.
• Epifluorescence microscopy for biofilm inhibition assessment.

Main Results:

• The SD formulation demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with MICs ranging from 0.78-3.12% v/v.
• Staphylococcus sp. exhibited higher susceptibility compared to Gram-negative bacteria.
• The formulation effectively reduced bacterial growth on contaminated surfaces, outperforming vinegar.
• Significant inhibition of biofilm-embedded Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was observed.

Conclusions:

• The developed surface disinfectant formulation exhibits potent antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties.
• This natural-based formulation presents a promising, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional disinfectants.
• Further research into individual component impacts is warranted, but the formulation shows potential for agricultural applications.