*Result*: Multivariate Characterization of Essential Oils for Their Antibacterial Activity Against Escherichia coli: A Data-Driven Interpretation of Experimental Results.

Title:
Multivariate Characterization of Essential Oils for Their Antibacterial Activity Against Escherichia coli: A Data-Driven Interpretation of Experimental Results.
Authors:
Kokalj Ladan M; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia., Supé Vide M; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia., Schoss K; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Source:
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) [Molecules] 2026 Jan 07; Vol. 31 (2). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jan 07.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: MDPI Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 100964009 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1420-3049 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14203049 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Molecules Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: Basel, Switzerland : MDPI, c1995-
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Grant Information:
P1-0208 The Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Escherichia coli; GC–MS analysis; antimicrobial activity; bioactive compounds; essential oils; multivariate analysis
Substance Nomenclature:
0 (Oils, Volatile)
0 (Anti-Bacterial Agents)
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20260128 Date Completed: 20260128 Latest Revision: 20260131
Update Code:
20260131
PubMed Central ID:
PMC12844431
DOI:
10.3390/molecules31020207
PMID:
41599258
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance emphasizes the urgent need for new and effective natural antimicrobial agents. This study assessed the antibacterial activity of twenty essential oils and one absolute against Escherichia coli and examined the relationship between their chemical composition and biological activity. The chemical profiles of the samples were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the resulting data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA), and partial least squares (PLS) methods to explore associations between composition and antibacterial activity. The results showed substantial variability among the tested essential oils, with those from Thymus vulgaris, Aniba rosaeodora, Syzygium aromaticum, Pimenta dioica, and the absolute of Evernia prunastri exhibiting the strongest activity. GC-MS analysis identified thymol, eugenol, and methyl atrarate as key bioactive constituents associated with strong antibacterial effects, while linalool, limonene, and α-terpineol were linked to moderate activity. Multivariate analyses provided further insight but were limited by data variability, highlighting compositional diversity rather than clear group separation. Overall, the findings demonstrate that essential oils are a promising source of natural antimicrobial agents and emphasise the importance of linking chemical composition with biological function to understand their potential therapeutic applications.*