Emu Oil

Its Anti-Microbial and

Anti-Viral Potential

A report for the Rural Industries Research

and Development Corporation
by Thomas V Riley and Christine F Carson
University of Western Australia

October 1999
RIRDC Publication No 99/132
RIRDC Project No UWA-37A

 1999 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

All rights reserved.
ISBN 0 642 57948 2
ISSN 1440-6845
Emu Oil Its Anti-microbial and Anti-viral Potential
Publication no 99/132
Project no. UWA-37A
The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and
not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever
to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report.
This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research,
providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning
reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186.

Researcher Contact Details

Associate Professor Thomas V Riley
Department of Microbiology
Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre
Nedlands WA 6009
Phone:
Fax:
Email:

(08) 9346 3690

(08) 9346 2912
triley@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

RIRDC Contact Details

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
Level 1, AMA House
42 Macquarie Street
BARTON ACT 2600
PO Box 4776
KINGSTON ACT 2604
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Website:

02 6272 4539
02 6272 5877
rirdc@rirdc.gov.au
http://www.rirdc.gov.au

Published in October 1999

Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint

ii

Foreword
The viability of the emu industry depends on the successful development of high
value markets for the oil. These markets include meat and leather industries,
however, the highest potential value and return to the Australian economy is in
the area of natural medicines derived from emu oil. Anecdotal stories suggest that
the anti-inflammatory properties of emu oil are certainly worth investigating. An
area that has received less interest is that of antimicrobial activity.
The purpose of this project was to:
investigate the ability of emu oil to kill or inhibit various bacteria, fungi and
viruses,
compare the activity of emu oil with other natural products, and
to recommend, if appropriate, further areas for research.
This report, a new addition to RIRDCs diverse range of almost 400 research
publications, forms part of the Corporations New Animal Products R&D
Program, which aims to accelerate the development of viable new animal
industries.
Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing
online through our website:
downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Index.htm
purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/cat/contents.html
Peter Core
Managing Director
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

iii

Acknowledgments
The assistance of John Snowden and Peter OMalley in providing samples of emu oil for
testing was appreciated. The technical assistance of Ms Katherine Hammer is gratefully
acknowledged, as is the provision of facilities by the Western Australian Centre for Pathology
and Medical Research.

iv

Contents
Foreword ...........................................................................................................
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................
Executive Summary
........................................................................................

iii
iv
vi

1.0

INTRODUCTION

2.0 OBJECTIVES

3.0 METHODS.
3.1 Oil samples..............................................................................
3.2 Antimicrobial testing.............................................
3.3 Disc diffusion assay...
3.4 Viability of organisms in 50% emu oil..

3
3
3
3
3

4.0 RESULTS
4.1 Oil set 1......................................................
4.2 Oil set 2...........................................
4.3 Oil set 3.
4.4 Tea tree oil comparison group..
4.5 Antiviral activity.

5
5
5
5
6
6

5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.0 REFERENCES .. ...........................................................................................

7.0 RIRDC PUBLICATIONS .. ............................................................................

Executive Summary
In a preliminary investigation of emu oil no consistent antibacterial or antifungal effect could be
demonstrated. Using a disc diffusion assay to detect activity, only one sample of 19 collected at
three different times and using different feeding and rendering schedules, showed any effect,
and this was against a fungus Candida albicans. However, this effect could not be repeated
with other oils.
By comparison, tea tree oil showed consistent activity against bacteria and fungi. Methods were
developed for antiviral testing, however, due to technical difficulties, these assays will be
completed at a later date.

vi

1.0 Introduction
Recent reports on the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria highlight the growing
necessity for the development or discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. Traditionally,
antibiotics have been derived from microorganisms, however, other sources have included
plants and, more recently, animals. It has been suggested that emu oil may possess
antimicrobial activity although there are no published confirmatory reports of this and
evidence is of an anecdotal nature. Confirmation of this suggestion would not only enhance
our ability to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, but would contribute to the
development of a new Australian industry.

For the successful development of a novel antimicrobial agent, work must proceed on the
basis of sound scientific investigation. Ultimately, registration of emu oil under the
Therapeutic Goods Act may be sought and appropriate preliminary data is required to guide
further research. Initially, the in vitro antimicrobial activity of emu oil against a range of
clinically relevant microorganisms should be assessed using methods that have been
developed to study the antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil (Carson and Riley, 1993; Carson
and Riley, 1994; Carson and Riley, 1995). The reason for this is that these methods have
been developed for hydrophobic compounds like emu oil, however, some modification may
be required. The organisms tested should include reference organisms and/or recent clinical
isolates. The former allows other workers to reproduce the work while the latter are of
relevance clinically.

The data generated in this type of investigation is critical in focusing the potential
applications of emu oil and future work would be guided by the spectrum of activity
demonstrated in this initial stage. Once sufficient data regarding the in vitro activity of emu
oil are assembled, and results indicated adequate activity, then product formulation and
assessment could proceed. If positive outcomes were obtained from an in vitro evaluation of
the products, work could proceed to in vivo clinical trials. It is likely, given its history of
use, that emu oil would only be suitable for external use and therefore organisms and
infections amenable to topical treatment should be targeted.

2.0 Objectives
The purpose of this project, carried out on behalf of the New Animal Products Sub-Program
of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, was to:

investigate the ability of emu oil to kill or inhibit various bacteria, fungi and viruses,

compare the activity of emu oil with other natural products, and

to recommend, if appropriate, further areas for research.

3.0 Methods
3.1 Oil samples
Three sets of emu oil samples were tested: a set of seven oils, a set of four oils and a set of
eight oils. These were provided by either Mr Peter OMalley or Dr John Snowden at the
Western Australian Department of Agriculture. Some activity was detected in one sample
from the first set (see below). This oil was rendered at low temperatures from body fat
taken from animals fed a standard diet. The second set of four samples was from animals
fed different diets and rendered at low temperatures.

3.2 Antimicrobial testing

Two different methods were used in the evaluation. The test organisms were
Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571, Escherichia coli ATCC 10418 and Candida albicans
ATCC 10231. For comparative purposes, several samples of commercially available tea
tree oil were evaluated using similar methodology.

3.3 Disc diffusion assay

A standard suspension of each organism was spread evenly over the surface of a 20ml
Mueller Hinton agar plate.

After the inoculum had dried, a 12.5mm paper disc was placed in the centre of the plate,
and 50ul of emu oil was placed on the paper disc.

After the oils had soaked into each disc, plates were inverted and incubated at 35C for
24h.

After incubation, plates were observed for a zone of no growth around each disc. This is
called the zone of inhibition.

3.4 Method 2 Viability of test organisms in 50% emu oil

A standard suspension of each organism was diluted into double-strength Mueller

Hinton broth.

This mixture was then used to inoculate an equal volume of each emu oil.

These organism/emu oil solutions were mixed thoroughly, then incubated at 35C for
24h.

After incubation, viable counts were performed on each of the organism/emu oil
solutions, to determine the number of viable organisms contained in each solution. This
was achieved by performing serial ten-fold dilutions and spot inoculating 10ul samples
from the dilutions onto blood agar plates.

These samples were incubated at 35C for 24h after which time, the numbers of
colonies were counted.

4.0 Results
Oil sets 1 and 2 were tested with the screening disc diffusion method only.

4.1 Emu oil set 1

Of the seven oils tested (samples numbers 1-7), one emu oil sample (sample 5)
demonstrated activity against C. albicans, i.e. antifungal activity.

4.2 Emu oil set 2

Of the four oils tested (sample numbers 3-60C, 7-60C, 8-60C, and canola-60C), none
demonstrated activity against any of the test organisms.

4.3 Emu oil set 3

In the screening assay, no zones of inhibition were seen, which indicates that no oil
inhibited the growth of any test organism.

Using the second method (Table 1), starting concentrations of organisms were as
follows (colony forming units per ml): Staph. aureus 4.1 x 105, E. coli 1.9 x 105, C.
albicans 4.1 x 105.

For three of eight oils, organism numbers decreased to below the detection limit.

For three of eight oils, organism numbers remained approximately constant.

For two of eight oils, organism numbers increased beyond the upper detection limit.

Table 1.
Organisms (cfu/ml) recovered from test organism/emu oil solutions after 24h
Emu oil #

Staph. aureus

E. coli

5, 6, 10
not detected*
not detected
5
1
1.5 x 10
1.0 x 105
2
4.0 x 105
1.0 x 105
5
1.2 x 108
14
4.0 x 10
11, 12
too many to count
too many to count
* Lower limit of detection is approximately 5 x 104 cfu/ml
Upper limit of detection is approximately 5 x 108 cfu/ml

C. albicans
not detected
4.5 x 105
2.2 x 105
8.2 x 105
too many to count

4.4 Tea tree oil comparison group

A comparison with several samples of tea tree oil is shown in Table 2. All tea tree oil
samples gave large zones of inhibition.

Table 2. Mean zones of inhibition for 9 commercially available of tea tree oils.

Organism

Mean zone of inhibition (mm)

E. coli

33.9

Staph. aureus

25.4

C. albicans

20.3

4.5 Antiviral activity

Much effort was put into developing methods suitable for testing emu oil for antiviral
activity. This was done in conjunction with another RIRDC funded project examining the
antiviral activity of tea tree oil and many of the methodological problems are similar. At
present the following has been achieved:

the production of suitable stocks of Herpes virus for assays (once virus titres reach high
enough levels these stocks are frozen at minus 70 degrees for future work),

the production of various tissue culture cell line for investigation (likewise these stocks
are frozen for various assays),

various solubilising agents have been assessed,

a plaque reduction assay system has been developed and tested.

Unfortunately, due to a freezer breakdown and loss of stored tissue culture cell lines just
before batch testing commenced, antiviral testing will have to be completed at a later date.

5.0 Conclusions and recommendations

Although the overall number of emu oil samples tested was small, and one showed some
activity against C. albicans, it is difficult to conclude that emu oil has antimicrobial activity.
The most likely explanation for activity in the one sample is either that the animal
consumed some sort of antimicrobial in its feed or that the sample was somehow
contaminated in the rendering process. During the course of this project we have also tested
several emu oil samples for various producers throughout Australia. None has shown any
antibacterial or antifungal activity.

Because of these negative results, an alternative additional testing plan was used for the last
samples. In this, organisms were inoculated into a mixture of emu oil and broth and then
sampled over a period of time. With this method, variable results were obtained, with three
of eight samples not supporting the growth of test organisms. The effect was non-specific
in that there was no difference between Gram positive Staph. aureus and Gram negative E.
coli or the yeast C. albicans. One possible interpretation of this non-specific effect is that
there may be an inhibitory tissue substance in the emu oil, in the same way that human
serum samples may be inhibitory to certain organisms. These substances are not true
antibiotics and may be antibodies or even certain fatty acids. The latter would seem a
distinct possibility given the rendering process. In any event, the minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) of emu oil could be calculated to be about 50%, far too great to be of
commercial interest (cf. MICs of tea tree oil which are in the order of 0.25-0.5%).

It will be of interest to see if there is any antiviral activity, however, on the basis of the
work completed, it is probably not worth pursuing antibacterial or antifungal activity any
further.

6.0 References
Carson, C. F. and Riley, T. V. (1993) Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of
Melaleuca alternifolia. Letters in Applied Microbiology 16:49-55.
Carson, C. F. and Riley, T. V. (1994) The antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil. Medical
Journal of Australia 160:236.
Carson, C. F. and Riley, T. V. (1995) Antimicrobial activity of the major components of the
essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 78:264-269.