Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis and Trachyspermum copticum essential oil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis and Trachyspermum copticum essential oils against different kinds of microorganisms in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by micro broth dilution assay and the chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. RESULTS Thymol, p-cymene, γ-terpinene and carvacrol were the main components of S. hortensis oil while thymol, γ-terpinene, and o-cymene were the major components of T. copticum oil. Two essential oils exhibited strong antimicrobial activity but the antimicrobial activity of T. copticum oil was higher than that of S. hortensis oil. CONCLUSION Thymol as a main component of oils plays an important role in antimicrobial activity.