Comparative Analysis of the Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Four Moroccan North Middle Atlas Medicinal Plants’ Essential Oils: Rosmarinus officinalis L., Mentha pulegium L., Salvia officinalis L., and Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis (Boiss.) R. Morales

Medicinal plants represent an inexhaustible source of traditional and effective remedies thanks to the various active ingredients they contain. Secondary metabolites present in plant extracts, such as essential oils (EO), have remarkable pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial effects. Here, chemical composition effects four Moroccan medicinal plants, Rosmarinus officinalis L. (R. officinalis), Mentha pulegium (M. pulegium), Salvia (S. Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis (Boiss.) R. Morales (T. zygis), traditionally used Morocco treat microbial infections, were addressed. EO extracted using hydrodistillation method, analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). yields 3.64 ± 0.12, 3.53 0.06, 2.48 2.34 0.08%, respectively, for M. pulegium, officinalis, S. T. zygis. The main bioactive components these piperitenone (32.9%) pulegone (32.8%) 1,8-cineol (43.8%) camphor (18.7%) 1,8-cineole (16.8%) trans-thujone (15.9%) thymol (36.4%), carvacrol (24.1%) cymene (23.5%) These showed, according results their activities, good effectiveness against bacteria fungi. Moreover, showed most potent activity all studied, while that moderate Enterobacter cloacae Streptococcus agalactiae Escherichia coli. antifungal tests revealed a strong EO. On other hand, found be inactive at doses selected strains. In conclusion, our show studied contain biologically molecules They can replace synthesized molecules, especially formulation additives, therapeutic, cosmetic, food-processing purposes.