# Remarkable Inhibition Efficacy of a Compound Plant Essential Oil Disinfectant Against Bacteria, Viruses, and Mycoplasmas

## TL;DR

A new plant-based disinfectant called Lei-Huo-Fu shows strong effectiveness against bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasmas in laboratory tests.

## Contribution

The development of a synergistic compound disinfectant combining Litsea cubeba, cinnamon, and star anise oils with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.

## Key findings

- The disinfectant achieved over 95% bactericidal rates against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. within 30 minutes.
- It inactivated avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains with rates above 99.9% at low concentrations.
- The disinfectant showed potent activity against mycoplasmas with MICs as low as 0.001875 µg/mL.

## Abstract

To address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance, this study developed a novel synergistic disinfectant, “Lei-Huo-Fu,” by blending Litsea cubeba, cinnamon, and star anise essential oils. This compound overcomes inherent limitations of single-component plant essential oils—such as high volatility, poor solubility, and a narrow spectrum—by delivering potent triple broad-spectrum efficacy. It demonstrates exceptional activity against bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp.), with MIC values as low as 0.00375–0.03 µg/mL and over 95% bactericidal rates within 30 min. Furthermore, it effectively inactivates major IBV coronavirus strains at a rate of 99.97–99.99% and uniquely targets cell wall-deficient mycoplasmas (MG/MS) with MICs of 0.001875–0.00375 µg/mL. This safe, efficient, and natural disinfectant shows significant potential for controlling zoonotic pathogens and improving animal husbandry environments.

Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms have caused serious economic losses to animal husbandry, and the use of appropriate disinfectants is crucial for eliminating these pathogens. Plant essential oils (PEOs), as natural bioproducts, have the characteristics of safety, non-toxicity, and broad spectrum. In this study, the inhibition efficacies against bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasmas of a compound PEO disinfectant (designated as Lei-Huo-Fu) were evaluated through determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal rate against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp.; inactivation rate of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV); as well as determination of MIC of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS). The results showed that the MIC values of the PEO disinfectant against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, and Salmonella spp. were as low as 0.00375 µg/mL to 0.03 µg/mL. The bactericidal rates against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. reached over 95% within 30 min at a concentration of 0.03 µg/mL. For three dominant prevalent genotype strains of LX4-type, Mass-type, and Taiwan-type of IBV, the inactivation rates achieved by the PEO disinfectant at a concentration of 0.015 µg/mL and a disinfection time of 30 min were all above 99.9%. The MIC of the PEO disinfectant against MG and MS was 0.001875 µg/mL and 0.00375 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, the compound PEO disinfectant (Lei-Huo-Fu) has significant inhibitory effects on bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasmas, and possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. However, it is important to note that these findings are based on laboratory assays, and the efficacy in practical settings, along with the exact mechanisms of action, require further investigation. In this study, the compound PEO disinfectant demonstrates promising in vitro efficacy, suggesting its potential as a candidate for development into a safe, efficient, and natural disinfectant, pending further validation.