Antimicrobial Activity of Wheat Germ Oil: A Disk Diffusion Study

Abstract

Aim: Wheat germ oil possesses antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which can be attributed to the presence of phytosterols and tocopherols in its composition. The relentless spread of antimicrobial resistance has prompted scientists to seek alternative antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial activity of commercially available wheat germ oil.

Method: The antimicrobial activity of wheat germ oil was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. The standard bacteria obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) were utilized in this study. Four Gram-negative bacteria (Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC-17978, Escherichia coli ATCC-25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC-700603, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC-28539), two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-29213 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC-29212), and one yeast fungus (Candida albicans ATCC-10231) were included in the study.

Results: The inhibition zone diameters of wheat germ oil against various microorganisms were measured as follows: E. coli (8.3 mm), S. aureus (10 mm), K. pneumoniae (8.7 mm), A. baumannii (8.7 mm), and C. albicans (11.67 mm). No antimicrobial activity was observed against P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis, as no inhibition zone was formed around the disks.

Conclusion: This study is pioneering in its investigation of the antimicrobial activity of wheat germ oil using the disk diffusion method. Given the increasing value placed on agents with antimicrobial properties, it is crucial to further explore the antimicrobial activity of wheat germ oil through additional research.