Antibacterial, Antifungal Properties and Chemical Composition of Essential Oils of Satureja hortensis L. and Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad

Background & Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial, antifungal properties and chemical composition screening of essential oils of Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad and Satureja hortensis L. Experimental: For determination of antibacterial and antifungal activity of these essential oils, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were targeted, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of each essential oil were determined individually. Also, chemical composition of essential oils was identified and characterized by gas chromatography armed by mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results: The total of 22 and 21 compounds were identified in the essential oils of aerial parts of S. hortensis and S. khuzestanica, respectively. The major components of S. hortensis essence were carvacrol (56.36%), γ-terpinene (24.75%), p-cymene (5.81%) and the major constituents of S. khuzestanica essence was reported carvacrol (69.62%), γ-terpinene (9.25%) and p-cymene (8.36%). The obtained results showed the antibacterial and antifungal activity of both extracted essential oils against the tested pathogens. The MIC and MBC of S. hortensis and S. khuzistanica essential oils against S. aureus were determined 0.1 and 0.5 μl/ml, and 0.1 and 0.2 μl/ml against C. albicans, respectively. Recommended applications/industries: The results showed that S.hortensis oil had higher antimicrobial activity compare to S. khuzistanica.