The evaluation of antimicrobial effects of five different brands of rose water, water extract of Rosa damascene in comparison with rose oil

The use of plant compounds to treat infections is an age-old practice in a large part of the world. Members of Rosacea family have long been used for food and medicinal purposes. The aim of this study is evaluation of antimicrobial effect of five different brands of rose water, water extract of Rosa damascene in comparison with rose oil. Five different brands of rose water, water extract of rosa damascene and rose oil were tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Esherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans by broth micro dilution assay. Rosewater with five concentrations of 1%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% in the culture media and water extract of rosa damascene with six concentrations of 0.2, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/ml and Rose oil with five concentrations of 0.1, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 μl/ml were studied. All bacterial turbidities were examined visually. Each test was repeated three times. In this study, the use of any concentration of rose water failed to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, completely. However, we found that there is a significant difference between rising of rose water concentration and decreasing the microorganism growth. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of water extract of Rosa damascene were 8 mg/ml in Staphylococcus aureus, 6 mg/ml in Enterococcus faecalis and Esherichia coli, 4 mg/ml in Candida albicans. The MIC values of rose oil were 10 µg/ml in Staphylococcus aureus and Esherichia coli, 5 µg/ml in Enterococcus faecalis, 1 µg/ml in Candida albicans. We also found no inhibitory effect of Rose extract and Rose oil on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study showed rose water, water extract of rosa damascene and rose oil have anti-microbial effects. However, clinical use of this material requires more and larger studies.