Study of the effect of Nano-niosome containing zataria multiflora essential oil on the Staphylococcus aureus induced keratitis in rat

Bacterial keratitis is an infection that cause inflammation of the cornea and one of the most common complications following the use of contact lenses. Zataria multiflora is among popular medicinal plants that has received a lot of attention for treating infections due to having anti-bacterial effects. Nano drug delivery systems are drug carriers with nano-sized dimensions, which carry drugs or biomolecules and release them at the target tissue. The aim of the present study was to determine the antibacterial effect of Nano-niosome containing Zataria multiflora essential oil on the bacterial keratitis in rats. Staphylococcus aureus keratitis was induced in ۳۰ rats by injection of bacteria into the left corneal stroma. Treatment was started ۲۴ hours later with one of three randomly assigned protocols: ciprofloxacin (۳ mg/mL), Nano-niosome containing zataria multiflora and ۰.۹% saline eye drops. Eye drops were administered every hour. The rats were killed on days ۴ and ۸, and their corneas were removed for bacterial counts. The results showed that the microbial load of the corneas in the Nano-niosome drop group was significantly lower than the control group. Considering the antimicrobial effects of essential oil of zataria multiflora and the desirable properties of nano-systemic structure as essential oil carrier, the results of this study showed that Nano-niosome drop containing zataria multiflora can be a suitable alternative to common antibiotics in the treatment of keratitis.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bacterial keratitis ، Zataria multiflora ، Nano-niosome.