Antimicrobial Activity, Killing Kinetics, and Anti‑Inflammatory Effects of Croton tiglium Seed Oil

The limited efficacy of many traditional medications remains a worldwide health concern, emphasizing the critical need for innovative therapeutic agents. Natural products derived from previously unknown biodiversity offer a viable and sustainable supply of novel bioactive chemicals. The oil extracted from Croton tiglium seeds was high in physiologically active fatty acids, with 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z-), cis-vaccenic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, and tetradecanoic acid being the most prominent components. The oil demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterial action against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as harmful fungi, resulting in significant microbicidal effects, with total bacterial mortality reported after 180 minutes of treatment. The oil had strong anti-inflammatory effect, as evidenced by a low IC₅₀ value (5.79 ± 0.6 µg/mL). Treatment with C. tiglium seed oil dramatically reduced oxidative stress markers such as superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, and glutathione reductase, showing a potent antioxidant activity. The oil also showed anti-hemolytic effects in the presence of bacterial stress. Therefore, C. tiglium seed oil has a unique mix of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytoprotective properties. These findings give persuasive evidence that C. tiglium seed oil is a promising natural therapeutic candidate and shed light on the medicinal potential of plant-derived oils in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory illnesses.