n-Dodecane was used as an overlay to prevent the loss of volatiles. Furthermore, n-dodecane was used to solubilize and extract (−)-α-bisabolol, which is toxic to E. coli cell growth in high concentrations, from the culture media during cultivation. MVA was prepared from mevalonolactone (Sigma Aldrich) as previously described . Cell growth was monitored by measuring the optical density at a wavelength of 600 nm (OD600) with a spectrophotometer (Ultrospec 8000, GE Healthcare, Uppsala, Sweden). The inhibitory effect of (−)-α-bisabolol on the growth of E. coli strains was investigated in LB liquid medium supplemented with various concentrations of (−)-α-bisabolol. Diluted samples from cultures during the stationary phase were plated on LB solid medium and the colony-forming units (CFUs) were determined after overnight incubation at 30 °C.