Abstract
The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Thymus serpyllum and Thymus serpyllum‘Aureus’ has been investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Forty-seven compounds (99.67% of the total oil) wereidentified in the essential oil of T. serpyllum. The main components found in the oil were carvacrol (37.49%), -terpinene (10.79%), -caryophyllene (6.51%), p-cymene (6.06%), (E)--ocimene (4.63%) and -bisabolene (4.51%). Similarly, carvacrol (44.93%), -terpinene(10.08%), p-cymene (7.39%) and -caryophyllene (6.77%) dominated in the oil of T. serpyllum ‘Aureus’. A total of forty three compounds wereidentified in this oil, representing 99.49% of the total oil content. On the basis of the obtained data it was proved that the content of 1-octen-3-ol,eucalyptol, (Z)--ocimene, (E)--ocimene, -terpinene, carvacrol methyl ether, germacrene D and -bisabolene was significantly higher for T.serpyllum while T. serpyllum ‘Aureus’ was characterized by a significantly higher content of 3-octanone, 3-octanol, p-cymene, borneol andcarvacrol. The isolated essential oils were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against nine reference strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcusaureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, Proteus vulgaris and Candidaalbicans) by the microdilution technique. Based on this test, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of essential oil were calculated. Thevolatile oil obtained from T. serpyllum showed the highest antimicrobial activity relative to the strain of E. coli (MIC=0.025 μL/mL) and to theyeast C. albicans (MIC=0.05 μL/mL). Similarly, a significant antimicrobial activity exhibited T. serpyllum ‘Aureus’ essential oil, although the MICvalues obtained in that case for E. coli and C. albicans strains were twice as high and were respectively 0.05 μL/mL and 0.1 μL/mL.
Highlights
IntroductionThymus serpyllum L. (wild thyme, mother of thyme) belongs to the genus Thymus, which comprises about 350 species worldwide (Maksimovic et al, 2008)
Thymus serpyllum L. belongs to the genus Thymus, which comprises about 350 species worldwide (Maksimovic et al, 2008)
A significant antimicrobial activity exhibited the T. serpyllum ‘Aureus’ essential oil, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values obtained in that case for E. coli and C. albicans strains were twice as high and were respectively (0.05 μL/mL and 0.1 μL/mL)
Summary
Thymus serpyllum L. (wild thyme, mother of thyme) belongs to the genus Thymus, which comprises about 350 species worldwide (Maksimovic et al, 2008). The aerial parts of Thymus possess antimicrobial (Ismaili et al, 2002), antioxidant (Jukic and Milos, 2005), anti-inflammatory (Broucke and Lemli, 1983), antiviral and expectorant (Nabavi et al, 2015) activities These valuable properties are attributed with the presence of thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene and γ-terpinene in the essential oil (Dorman and Deans, 2000; Rasooli and Mirmostafa, 2002). Thymus oils and extracts have found wide applications in cosmetic and perfume industry as well as flavourings and preservative agents for different food products (Guseinov et al., 1987) Due to their antiseptic, antispasmodic and antimicrobial properties, they are used for medicinal purposes (Jirovetz et al, 2007). The flowering parts and leaves of Thymus species plants are mainly used as herbal tea, flavouring agents (condiment and spice), for treating colds, coughs, sore throat and indigestion (Zargari, 1990; Morales 2002; Amin, 2005)
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