THE ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY OF ETHANOL EXTRACTS OBTAINED FROM LEAVES OF SOME THYMUS SPECIES (LAMIACEAE) AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS SUBSP. AUREUS STRAIN

Abstract

A convincing number of investigations that indicate that thymol with other metabolites exhibited potent antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties prompted us to verify the antibacterial efficacy of four species and one interspecific hybrid of the Thymus genus collected in the western part of Ukraine against Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus (ATCC® 29213™) strain. Considering the points highlighted above and based on previous results obtained in our laboratory, in the current study, we decided to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of five ethanol extracts obtained from leaves of Thymus representatives against Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus (ATCC® 29213™) strain. Fresh leaves were washed, weighed, crushed, and homogenized in 96 % ethanol (in proportion 1:19) at room temperature. The extracts were then filtered and investigated for their antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar disk diffusion assay. The ethanol extracts obtained from leaves of Thymus plants showed different antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus (ATCC® 29213™) strain. The antibacterial activity of extracts was greatest for Th. serpyllum followed by Th. pannonicus followed by Th. pulegioides, Th. alpestris, and then by Th. x porcii. Since the antibacterial effectiveness of medicinal plants varies dramatically depending on the phytochemical characteristics of plant families and subfamilies, it is not surprising to note the difference in this efficacy even when using samples taken from the same plant, but from two different regions. The antimicrobial activity of the crude ethanol extracts obtained from leaves of Thymus plants may be attributed to specific compounds or a combination of compounds. The present study lays the basis for future research, to validate the possible use of Thymus species as a candidate in the treatment of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureusin medicine and veterinary.