Potential Anti-Infectious Activity of Essential Oil Chemotypes of Kunth on Antibiotic-Resistant Strains

infections are prevalent in healthcare and community environments. Methicillin-resistant is catalogued as a superbug of high priority among the pathogens. This Gram-positive coccus can form biofilms and produce toxins, leading to persistent infection and antibiotic resistance. Limited effective antibiotics have encouraged the development of innovative strategies, with a particular emphasis on resistance mechanisms and/or virulence factors. Medicinal aromatic plants have emerged as promising alternative sources. This study investigated the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antihemolysis properties of three different chemotypes of essential oil (EO) against susceptible and drug-resistant strains. The chemical composition of the EO was analyzed using GC-MS, revealing high monoterpene concentrations, with carvacrol and thymol as the major components in two of the chemotypes. The third chemotype consisted mainly of the sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene. The MIC values for the two monoterpene chemotypes ranged from 62.5 to 500 µg/mL for all strains, whereas the sesquiterpene chemotype showed activity against seven strains at concentrations of 125-500 µg/mL, which is the first report of its anti- activity. The phenolic chemotypes inhibited biofilm formation in seven strains, whereas the sesquiterpene chemotype only inhibited biofilm formation in four strains. In addition, phenolic chemotypes displayed antihemolysis activity, with IC values ranging from 58.9 ± 3.8 to 128.3 ± 9.2 µg/mL. Our study highlights the importance of EO from the Yucatan Peninsula, which has the potential for the development of anti- agents.