in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of some lamiaceae species

the methanolic extracts, infusions, decoctions and hydrosols of six plants were investigated for their total phenolic contents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities: mentha piperita (peppermint), thymus vulgaris   (thyme), melissa officinalis (lemon balm), ocimum basilicum (basil), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and     salvia officinalis     (sage) (lamiaceae). total phenolic contents were determined by folin-ciocalteu procedure and ranged from 111.03 ± 0.6 (sage methanolic extract) to 19.07 ± 0.0 mg (basil methanolic extract) gallic acid   equivalent /g extract. the antioxidant activity was evaluated by two methods, dpph and phosphomolybdenum   assays. the decoction of rosemary showed the highest dpph radical scavenging activity (ic   50 = 8.36 μg/ml). the methanolic extract of peppermint showed the highest total antioxidant activity (241.85 ± 1.9 mg ascorbic acid   equivalent /g extract) measured by phosphomolybdenum assay. the antimicrobial activities of herbs were tested against eight bacteria and two yeasts.