In the extensive domain of “biotechnology and drug development for
targeting human diseases”, essential oils have long been revered for their therapeutic
potential. Among these, farnesol and farnesene stand out due to their pharmacological
attributes. As the challenge of antibiotic resistance intensifies, the scientific community
is increasingly exploring the potential of these traditional remedies. Using the KirbyBauer agar diffusion method, a qualitative assessment was conducted on two grampositive and two gram-negative bacterial strains. The broth microdilution technique
further determined the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum
Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and the sensitizing impacts of these compounds.
Both farnesol and farnesene exhibited antibacterial efficacy against all evaluated
strains. Their synergistic potential was highlighted when combined with clavulanic
acid, cefuroxime, and cefepime. Among these combinations, farnesene paired with
cefepime showed pronounced efficacy against Escherichia coli 82 MR, with an MIC of
0.47 μg/mL. In contrast, in the investigation of Staphylococcus aureus 23MR, it was
observed that this particular strain exhibited an increased sensitivity when exposed to
combinations containing farnesol. Notably, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration
(MIC) was determined to be 0.03 µg/mL in the presence of both antibiotic agents. To
gain deeper molecular insights, docking experiments were performed with the βlactamases of E. coli and S. aureus, focusing on the most effective combinations. All
tested compounds—cefuroxime, cefepime, farnesene, and farnesol—acted as noncompetitive inhibitors, suggesting their potential mechanisms of action.
Keywords: Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, Essential oils, Farnesol, Farnesene.
