Analysing the Antibacterial Synergistic Interactions of Romanian Lavender Essential Oils via Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry: In Vitro and In Silico Approaches
Roxana Aurelia C. Bălașoiu (Jigău),
Diana Obistioiu,
Anca Hulea,
Mukhtar Adeiza Suleiman,
Iuliana Popescu,
Doris Floares (Oarga),
Ilinca Merima Imbrea,
Alina-Georgeta Neacșu,
Laura Șmuleac,
Raul Pașcalău,
Laura Crista,
Cosmin Alin Popescu,
Ionel Samfira,
Florin Imbrea
Affiliations
Roxana Aurelia C. Bălașoiu (Jigău)
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Diana Obistioiu
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Anca Hulea
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Mukhtar Adeiza Suleiman
Faculty of Life Science, Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810107, Nigeria
Iuliana Popescu
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Doris Floares (Oarga)
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Ilinca Merima Imbrea
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Technologies, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Alina-Georgeta Neacșu
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Laura Șmuleac
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Raul Pașcalău
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Laura Crista
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Cosmin Alin Popescu
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Ionel Samfira
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Florin Imbrea
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
This study investigated the phytochemical characteristics, antibacterial activity, and synergistic potential of essential oils derived from Romanian lavender. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed that linalool is the main compound in all lavender essential oils, with concentrations ranging from 29.410% to 35.769%. Linalyl acetate was found in similar concentrations to linalool. Other significant compounds included 1,8-cineole (8.50%), lavandulyl acetate (5.38%), trans-β-ocimene (6.90%), and camphor (7.7%). A 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test was used to assess antioxidant capacity, with substantial free-radical-scavenging activity shown in the IC50 values determined. The antibacterial efficacy of the oils was higher against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria, with variations in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), the extent of inhibition, and evolution patterns. The study also explored the oils’ ability to enhance the efficacy of ampicillin, revealing synergistic interactions expressed as fractional inhibitory concentration indices. In silico protein–ligand docking studies used twenty-one compounds identified by GC-MS with bacterial protein targets, showing notable binding interactions with SasG (−6.3 kcal/mol to −4.6 kcal/mol) and KAS III (−6.2 kcal/mol to −4.9 kcal/mol). Overall, the results indicate that Romanian lavender essential oils possess potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and their synergistic interaction with ampicillin has potential for enhancing antibiotic therapies.