Antibacterial Activity and Antibacterial Mechanism of Lemon Verbena Essential Oil

The destructive effect and mode of action of lemon verbena essential oil on cells were investigated, taking the isolatedPseudosciaena D4as the research object. The extracellular absorbance of thePseudosciaena D4increased at OD260 and OD280 after being treated with lemon verbena essential oil, which destroyed the integrity ofPseudosciaena D4cells, showing a significant effect on preventing biomembrane formation and destroying the formed biomembrane. With an increased concentration of lemon verbena essential oil, extracellular polysaccharide showed a significant decrease in content and a significant increase in inhibition rate, indicating that the secretion of extracellular polysaccharide byPseudosciaena D4cells could be inhibited by lemon verbena essential oil during the process of biomembrane formation. Cell introcession and shrinkage appeared after the treatment with essential oil, and a transparent cavity was formed by the out-flowed cell content. Lemon verbena essential oil destroyed the cell wall, resulting in an enhanced permeability of the cell membrane and leakage of the contents, thereby causing cell death.Keywords:lemon verbena essential oil;antibacterial activity;antibacterial mechanism;Pseudosciaena crocea