ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF THE ORGANIC GREASY OILS COMBINATION - SEA BUCKTHORN OIL AND MAIZE GERMS OIL

Maize-germ oil is obtained from seedlings of Zea mays L. (Gramineae) by pressing (cold-pressed maize-germ oil). Maize-germ oil is highly valued in nutritional terms on account of the palmitic acid content and, primarily, of the high oleic and linoleic acid content. In the food industry, maize-germ oil is used in the production of foodstuffs (diet products, baby foods, margarine, and mayonnaise). Sea Buckthorn oil (Hippophae rhamnoides) supports healthy skin growth by high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, and beta carotene. Sea buckthorn seed oil promotes cell tissue growth, restoring skin tissue, supports wound healing, protects skin from anti-inflammatory effect, UV damage and absorption. Sea Buckthorn oil can actually improve metabolism and retard skin maturation, thus slowing the aging process, possibly because of the effects of its high levels of Vitamins A and E. In this study we evaluated the possible useful combination of fatty oil from corn germ and the Sea Buckthorn oil as both vehicle, and active ingredient, in pharmaceutical products for oral use, due to their primarily intrinsic antimicrobial properties reflected in the quality and safety of finished products. These studies were carried out according to the methodology of the European Pharmacopoeia monograph namely "Efficacy of antimicrobial preservatives", demonstrating the antimicrobial effect both in terms of quality and quantity, on the following standard test microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404. This study aimed to demonstrate the antimicrobial efficacy of organic fatty oils combination- without added preservatives in its manufacturing formulation. Both ingredients were 100% organic certified. The ingredients were pure and did not contain any additives or chemicals; they were not hydrogenated and were free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).