The Combined Effects of Curcumin and Melaleuca quinquenervia L. Oil on Inhibiting the Overgrowth of Staphylococcus epidermidis

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common skin bacteria known to be an opportunistic pathogen when there is an overgrowth. The effect of overgrowth causes damage to the skin barrier ultimately resulting in dry skin and diseases such as eczema (Brown & Horswill, 2020). Many studies have concluded that curcumin has many antimicrobial properties against S. epidermidis in inhibiting bacterial growth. Niaouli oil has also been tested individually with results suggesting that the essential oil can effectively inhibit bacterial growth due to vitamin E content. This study aimed to combine curcumin and niaouli oil to make a solution that would most effectively inhibit the growth of S. epidermidis. It was hypothesized that as the concentration of niaouli oil and curcumin increases in a solution administered to Staphylococcus epidermidis, the growth of bacteria will be more effectively inhibited. Four groups were formed for testing, three being experimental groups. Each experimental group had 30 trials with sterile disks soaked in different niaouli oil and curcumin concentrations placed in the middle of each quadrant. After incubating for three days, no zones of inhibition were formed. This was likely due to olive oil being used as a solvent. Olive oil may have disrupted the potential of niaouli oil and curcumin, which resulted in no-zone formations. An ANOVA statistical analysis would have been utilized if the results collected showed value. In future studies, it would be beneficial to use a larger concentration of niaouli oil so that it can be used as the solvent for curcumin.