Cutibacterium acnes, a commensal member of the skin microbiota, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. This study aimed to investigate the in-vitro antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of the essential rose oil (ERO) and absolute extract of Damask rose ( Rosa damascena ), which is traditionally used for acne vulgaris on C. acnes. The strains were previously isolated from patients with acne vulgaris and healthy controls. Sixteen strains (14 randomly selected clinical, 2 reference) were analyzed. Antibacterial activity was assessed using agar disk diffusion, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the agar dilution method. Biofilm formation and inhibition were quantified using a crystal violet microtiter plate assay. The ERO demonstrated potent antibacterial activity, with a mean inhibition zone of 26.3 ± 7.6 mm and a uniform MIC of 2% against all strains. In contrast, the absolute extract showed weaker activity; no inhibition was observed for three strains, and the MIC was higher at 4%. While the absolute extract showed no effect on biofilm formation, the ERO exhibited significant antibiofilm activity, causing a statistically significant reduction in biofilm mass even at sub-MIC concentrations (as low as 0.25%; P < 0.0033). The ERO exhibited potent antibacterial and, most notably, antibiofilm activity against C. acnes isolates. Its superior efficacy compared to the absolute extract, particularly its ability to inhibit biofilms at sub-inhibitory concentrations, suggests potential as a biotherapeutic candidate for the management of acne vulgaris, potentially helping to address the challenge of antibiotic resistance.
Sarmış et al. (Mon,) studied this question.