Shade-Induced Effects on Essential Oil Yield, Chemical Profiling, and Biological Activity in Some Lamiaceae Plants Cultivated in Serbia

Thyme, mint, and lemon balm were used to determine whether shading conditions could improve the yield, composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial activity in plant essential oils (EOs) comparison with non-shaded plants from an open field. The yield of EOs thyme, balm, was 3.44, 3.96, 0.21 mL/100 g, respectively. Plants covered by nets produced different levels (3.46, 2.20, 0.45 g) after 120 min hydrodistillation. main components thyme oil are thymol (44.2–43.9%), γ-terpinene (18.3–16.8%), p-cymene (16.5–17.4%). predominant mint piperitenone oxide (52.6–64.8%) 1,8 cineole (25.9–16.3%), while consists following components: geranial (34.0–32.8%); neral (21.3–24.9%); (17.2–16.7%). have highest antioxidant (EC50 value 0.54 mg/mL 3.03 mg/mL). However, shaded showed a stronger 3.43 mg/mL) than (12.85 60 incubation. all significant effects against Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans. most active isolates originated Thymus vulgaris L., plants. Adequate cultivation techniques, such as for Lamiaceae plants, has positive effects, especially Melissa officinalis L. Shading can achieve higher content terms specific biological (antioxidant microbial) EOs.