Evaluation of Antibacterial Effect on Propionibacterium acnes and Antioxidant Activity of Various Mushrooms, Chinese Herbs, and Plant Essential Oils

Aims: The inhibitory effects of 30 kinds of mushrooms, Chinese Herbs, and plant essential oils on Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) were compared to screen high activity antibacterial materials. Furthermore, their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), antioxidant activity, total flavonoids, and total phenol content were determined.

Methodology: The optimal antibacterial samples were screened using the paper diffusion method. The MIC was determined using the microdilution method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Trinitrophenylhydrazine (DPPH), Ferric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and 2, 2'-Azino-Bis(3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid) (ABTS) methods, and the total flavonoids and total phenol contents were determined using Rutin Method and Folin-Ciocalteu Method.

Results: The MIC of mushroom Tricholoma quercicola and Boletus edulis's extracts were 0.391mg/mL and 3.125mg/mL, showing better antibacterial effects on P. acnes. The Chinese herbs Pericarpium granati and Folium artemisia argyi's extracts (MIC 3.13mg/mL), plant essential oils of Eugenia caryophyllus flower, and Lavandula angustifolia (MIC 61.76mg/mL and 112.7mg/mL) exhibited satisfactory antibacterial effects on P. acnes. Antioxidant evaluation of the above six samples with high antibacterial activity revealed that Folium artemisiae argyi and Pericarpium granati's extract had good antioxidant activity. In addition, the determination results of total flavonoids and total phenols were consistent with the antioxidant activity.

Conclusion: The above results showed that Boletus edulis, Tricholoma quercicola, Pericarpium granati, and Folium artemisiae argyi could be used as candidate materials for the antibacterial, antioxidant materials, providing a feasible idea for the development of subsequent skincare products for the treatment of P. acnes.