{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T15:41:38Z","timestamp":1792683698903,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789516800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100011019","name":"NKFIH","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["147156"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["147156"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100011019","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100011019","name":"NKFIH","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["142122"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["142122"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100011019","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100011019","name":"NKFIH","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2021-1.2.6-T\u00c9T-IPARI-MA-2022-00015"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2021-1.2.6-T\u00c9T-IPARI-MA-2022-00015"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100011019","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100011019","name":"NKFIH","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2024-2.1.3-POC-2025-00004"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024-2.1.3-POC-2025-00004"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100011019","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aims<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The persistence of biofilm-forming nosocomial pathogens on healthcare-associated surfaces represents a major challenge in infection control. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial, antibiofilm, membrane-disruptive, and surface decontamination potential of methyl salicylate-rich Gaultheria fragrantissima essential oil (GFEO) against clinically relevant pathogens.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods and results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Antibacterial activity was determined by broth microdilution, while antibiofilm effects were assessed using crystal violet assays. Membrane-disruptive activity was evaluated by measuring cytoplasmic leakage, and synergistic interactions with antibiotics were analyzed using checkerboard titration. Surface disinfection potential was examined using carrier-based assays on stainless steel, glass, and polystyrene surfaces. GFEO exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (MIC: 0.156\u20132.5 mg mL\u207b\u00b9) and significantly inhibited early-stage biofilm formation (69%\u201392%). Rapid membrane permeabilization was observed within 10 min, with up to approx. 80% disruption at 2 \u00d7 MIC after 60 min. Synergistic interactions were identified with selected antibiotics (FICI 0.25\u20130.5). In surface assays, GFEO achieved approximately 3 log\u2081\u2080 reductions for most strain-surface combinations within 20 min and up to 4.77 log\u2081\u2080 after 60 min.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>GFEO exhibits a potent membrane-mediated antimicrobial profile with strong antibiofilm and surface bactericidal activity, highlighting its potential as a natural agent for healthcare-associated infection control and environmental decontamination.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/jambio\/lxag231","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,15]],"date-time":"2026-09-15T12:02:01Z","timestamp":1789473721000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Applied antibacterial and surface decontamination potential of methyl salicylate-rich\n                    <i>Gaultheria fragrantissima<\/i>\n                    essential oil"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"137","author":[{"given":"Vikt\u00f3ria Lilla","family":"Bal\u00e1zs","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gy\u00f6rgyi","family":"Horv\u00e1th","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Edit","family":"Ormai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marianna","family":"Kocsis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural Biology, Institute of Biology, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah","family":"Shubail","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Viktoria","family":"Bir\u00f3","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eszter","family":"Csik\u00f3s","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"T\u00edmea","family":"Bencsik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bence","family":"Bord\u00e1s","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tam\u00e1s","family":"Ollmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Neuroscience, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"B\u00e9la","family":"Kocsis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical School, University of P\u00e9cs , 7624 P\u00e9cs ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Margita","family":"Szil\u00e1gyi-Utcz\u00e1s","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Sports Nutrition Science, Hungarian University of Sports Science , 1123 Budapest ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Judit","family":"Krisch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Szeged , 6726 Szeged ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Erika","family":"Bencsik-Kerekes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged , 6726 Szeged ,","place":["Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jiph.2014.04.003","article-title":"Healthcare associated infections (HAI) perspectives","volume":"7","author":"Al-Tawfiq","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Infect Public Health"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"783832","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2021.783832","article-title":"Essential oil disinfectant efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 microbial surrogates","volume":"9","author":"Bailey","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"446","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2007.09.106","article-title":"Biological effects of essential oils\u2013a review","volume":"46","author":"Bakkali","year":"2008","journal-title":"Food Chem Toxicol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib4","first-page":"68","article-title":"Population studies of Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. in Darjeeling district of West Bengal","volume":"7","author":"Bantawa","year":"2008","journal-title":"Nat Prod Radiance"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S318","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2007.09.066","article-title":"A toxicologic and dermatologic assessment of salicylates when used as fragrance ingredients","volume":"45","author":"Belsito","year":"2007","journal-title":"Food Chem Toxicol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"454","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1472-765X.2004.01511.x","article-title":"Surface alteration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced by thymol and eugenol","volume":"38","author":"Bennis","year":"2004","journal-title":"Lett Appl Microbiol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1016\/S0378-8741(01)00273-2","article-title":"Antibacterial activity of leaf essential oils and their constituents from Cinnamomum osmophloeum","volume":"77","author":"Chang","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Ethnopharmacol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1586","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2672.2007.03694.x","article-title":"Disinfectant test against monoculture and mixed-culture biofilms composed of technological, spoilage and pathogenic bacteria: bactericidal effect of essential oil and hydrosol of Satureja thymbra and comparison with standard acid\u2013base sanitizers","volume":"104","author":"Chorianopoulos","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Appl Microbiol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib9","article-title":"Methods for dilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests for bacteria that grow aerobically","volume-title":"CLSI Standard M07","author":"Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)","year":"2024","edition":"12th edn."},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib10","article-title":"Performance Standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing","volume-title":"CLSI Supplement M100","author":"Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)","year":"2026","edition":"36th edn."},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"549","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodcont.2009.08.003","article-title":"Disinfectant action of Cymbopogon sp. essential oils in different phases of biofilm formation by Listeria monocytogenes on stainless steel surface","volume":"21","author":"de\u00a0Oliveira","year":"2010","journal-title":"Food Control"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib12","first-page":"33","article-title":"Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of Gaultheria procumbens essential oil against Klebsiella pneumoniae strains","volume":"5","author":"de\u00a0Oliveira\u00a0N\u00f3brega","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur J Med Health Sci"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"881","DOI":"10.3201\/eid0809.020063","article-title":"Biofilms: microbial life on surfaces","volume":"8","author":"Donlan","year":"2002","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2380","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22052380","article-title":"Maternal reproductive toxicity of some essential oils and their constituents","volume":"22","author":"Dosoky","year":"2021","journal-title":"IJMS"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5750","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.70.10.5750-5755.2004","article-title":"Mechanisms of bactericidal action of cinnamaldehyde against Listeria monocytogenes and of eugenol against L. monocytogenes and Lactobacillus sakei","volume":"70","author":"Gill","year":"2004","journal-title":"Appl Environ Microb"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"873","DOI":"10.1007\/s10096-010-0943-x","article-title":"Cellular effects induced by Inula graveolens and Santolina corsica essential oils on Staphylococcus aureus","volume":"29","author":"Guinoiseau","year":"2010","journal-title":"Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib17","first-page":"9","article-title":"PAST: paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis","volume":"4","author":"Hammer","year":"2001","journal-title":"Palaeontol Electron"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"639","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phymed.2008.06.008","article-title":"Synergism between natural products and antibiotics against infectious diseases","volume":"15","author":"Hemaiswarya","year":"2008","journal-title":"Phytomedicine"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.5005\/jp-journals-10024-1098","article-title":"Antimicrobial activity of commercially available essential oils against Streptococcus mutans","volume":"13","author":"Jawale","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Contemp Dent Pract"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1093\/eurpub\/ckac174","article-title":"The impact of switching from single-use to reusable healthcare products: a transparency checklist and systematic review of life-cycle assessments","volume":"33","author":"Keil","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur J Public Health"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ifset.2017.09.020","article-title":"Potential application of essential oils as antimicrobial preservatives in cheese","volume":"45","author":"Khorshidian","year":"2018","journal-title":"Innov Food Sci Emerg Technol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1007\/s13197-017-2842-y","article-title":"Assessment of chemically characterised Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. essential oil and its major component as safe plant based preservative for millets against fungal, aflatoxin contamination and lipid peroxidation during storage","volume":"55","author":"Kumar","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Food Sci Technol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12071","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules181012071","article-title":"Gaultheria: phytochemical and pharmacological characteristics","volume":"18","author":"Liu","year":"2013","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"i29","DOI":"10.1093\/jac\/dkp255","article-title":"Has the era of untreatable infections arrived?","volume":"64","author":"Livermore","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Antimicrob Chemother"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"128244","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2020.128244","article-title":"Gaultheria longibracteolata, an alternative source of wintergreen oil","volume":"342","author":"Luo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Chem"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"737710","DOI":"10.3389\/fceng.2021.737710","article-title":"A review of microalgal biofilm technologies: definition, applications, settings and analysis","volume":"3","author":"Moreno\u00a0Osorio","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Chem Eng"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indcrop.2015.11.042","article-title":"Biological and phylogenetic advancements of Gaultheria fragrantissima: economically important oil bearing medicinal plant","volume":"81","author":"Mukhopadhyay","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ind Crops Prod"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5587","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2013-7806","article-title":"An in vitro assessment of the antibacterial activity of plant-derived oils","volume":"97","author":"Mullen","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4711","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules25204711","article-title":"Antibacterial, antifungal, antimycotoxigenic, and antioxidant activities of essential oils: an updated review","volume":"25","author":"Mutlu-Ingok","year":"2020","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"561","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indcrop.2013.06.002","article-title":"Chemical composition and biological activity of Gaultheria procumbens L. essential oil","volume":"49","author":"Nikoli\u0107","year":"2013","journal-title":"Ind Crops Prod"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1090","DOI":"10.3390\/plants11081090","article-title":"Volatile constituent analysis of wintergreen essential oil and comparison with synthetic methyl salicylate for authentication","volume":"11","author":"Ojha","year":"2022","journal-title":"Plants"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"952","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apjtm.2017.09.005","article-title":"Chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of essential oil and methanol extract of Artemisia vulgaris and Gaultheria fragrantissima collected from Nepal","volume":"10","author":"Pandey","year":"2017","journal-title":"Asian Pac J Trop Med"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aspen.2016.03.001","article-title":"Insecticidal activities of essential oils, Gaultheria fragrantissima and Illicium verum, their components and analogs against Callosobruchus chinensis adults","volume":"19","author":"Park","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Asia-Pac Entomol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mimet.2007.11.010","article-title":"Comparison of multiple methods for quantification of microbial biofilms grown in microtiter plates","volume":"72","author":"Peeters","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Microbiol Methods"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6882-6-39","article-title":"In vitro antibacterial activity of some plant essential oils","volume":"6","author":"Prabuseenivasan","year":"2006","journal-title":"BMC Complement Altern Med"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"526","DOI":"10.1111\/lam.13445","article-title":"Potential of essential oil combinations for surface and air disinfection","volume":"72","author":"Sengun","year":"2021","journal-title":"Lett Appl Microbiol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1676","DOI":"10.3390\/ma11091676","article-title":"Control of biofilm formation in healthcare: recent advances exploiting quorum-sensing interference strategies and multidrug efflux pump inhibitors","volume":"11","author":"Subhadra","year":"2018","journal-title":"Materials"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1016\/j.archoralbio.2017.12.028","article-title":"Effects of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of lemon essential oil on the acid tolerance and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans","volume":"87","author":"Sun","year":"2018","journal-title":"Arch Oral Biol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jgar.2013.03.010","article-title":"Global antibacterial resistance: the never-ending story","volume":"1","author":"Theuretzbacher","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Glob Antimicrob Resistance"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib40","first-page":"27","article-title":"Overview on mechanisms of antibacterial resistance","volume":"2","author":"Toma","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Res Pharmacy Biosci"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1561","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.68.4.1561-1568.2002","article-title":"The phenolic hydroxyl group of carvacrol is essential for action against the food-borne pathogen Bacillus cereus","volume":"68","author":"Ultee","year":"2002","journal-title":"Appl Environ Microb"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2675","DOI":"10.1128\/JB.182.10.2675-2679.2000","article-title":"Biofilm, city of microbes","volume":"182","author":"Watnick","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Bacteriol"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib43","article-title":"New report calls for urgent action to avert antimicrobial resistance crisis","author":"WHO","year":"2019"},{"key":"2026102210540431800_bib44","volume-title":"Global Report on Infection Prevention and Control. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization","author":"WHO","year":"2022"}],"container-title":["Journal of Applied Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jambio\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/jambio\/lxag231\/71122900\/lxag231.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"am","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jambio\/article-pdf\/137\/10\/lxag231\/71122900\/lxag231.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jambio\/article-pdf\/137\/10\/lxag231\/71122900\/lxag231.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T14:54:09Z","timestamp":1792680849000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jambio\/article\/doi\/10.1093\/jambio\/lxag231\/8802077"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jambio\/lxag231","relation":{},"ISSN":["1365-2672"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1365-2672","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]},"article-number":"lxag231"}}