Microscopic Droplet Size Analysis (MDSA) of “Five Thieves’ Oil” (Olejek Pięciu Złodziei) Essential Oil after the Nebulization Process
Wojciech Smułek,
Maciej Jarzębski,
Marek Ochowiak,
Magdalena Matuszak,
Jan Kaczorek,
Jerzy Stangierski,
Jarosław Pawlicz,
Paweł Drobnik,
Piotr T. Nowakowski,
Joanna Dyrda-Muskus,
Grzegorz Fiutak,
Mieczysław Gorzelak,
Sirsendu S. Ray,
Kunal Pal
Affiliations
Wojciech Smułek
Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-695 Poznań, Poland
Maciej Jarzębski
Poland Department of Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 38/42, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Marek Ochowiak
Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-695 Poznań, Poland
Magdalena Matuszak
Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-695 Poznań, Poland
Jan Kaczorek
Independent Researcher, 60-965 Poznań, Poland
Jerzy Stangierski
Department of Food Quality and Safety Management, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 31/33, 60-624 Poznań, Poland
Jarosław Pawlicz
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 28 Czerwca 1956 135/147, 61-545 Poznań, Poland
Paweł Drobnik
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 28 Czerwca 1956 135/147, 61-545 Poznań, Poland
Piotr T. Nowakowski
Institute of Pedagogy, Rzeszów University, Jałowego 24, 35-010 Rzeszów, Poland
Joanna Dyrda-Muskus
Department of the Branch Office in Stalowa Wola, The Catholic University of Lublin, 37-450 Stalowa Wola, Poland
Grzegorz Fiutak
Department of Biotechnology and General Technology of Food, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 122, 30-149 Krakow, Poland
Mieczysław Gorzelak
Department of Orthopedy and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
Sirsendu S. Ray
Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, India
Kunal Pal
Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, India
Nowadays, due to a higher resistance to drugs, antibiotics, and antiviral medicaments, new ways of fighting pathogens are intensively studied. The alternatives for synthesized compositions are natural products, most of which have been known in natural medicine for a long time. One of the best-known and intensively investigated groups are essential oils (EOs) and their compositions. However, it is worth noting that the method of application can play a second crucial part in the effectiveness of the antimicrobial activity. EOs possess various natural compounds which exhibit antimicrobial activity. One of the compositions which is based on the five main ingredients of eucalyptus, cinnamon, clove, rosemary, and lemon is named “five thieves’ oil” (Polish name: olejek pięciu złodziei) (5TO) and is used in natural medicine. In this study, we focused on the droplet size distribution of 5TO during the nebulization process, evaluated by the microscopic droplet size analysis (MDSA) method. Furthermore, viscosity studies, as well as UV-Vis of the 5TO suspensions in medical solvents such as physiological salt and hyaluronic acid, were presented, along with measurements of refractive index, turbidity, pH, contact angle, and surface tension. Additional studies on the biological activity of 5TO solutions were made on the P. aeruginosa strain NFT3. This study opens a way for the possible use of 5TO solutions or emulsion systems for active antimicrobial applications, i.e., for surface spraying.
