Screening of antimicrobial activity of essential oil and methanol extract of Satureja hortensis on foodborne bacteria and fungi

Abstract

The present work reports the <i>in vitro</i> antimicrobial activities of the essential oil and methanol extract from <i>Satureja hortensis</i> as well as the content of its essential oil. The chemical composition of hydrodistilled essential oil of Satureja hortensis was analysed by means of GC-MS. Thirty constituents were identified. The main constituents of the oil were thymol (40.54%), &gamma;-terpinene (18.56%), carvacrol (13.98%), and <i>p</i>-cymene (8.97). The essential oil of <i>Satureja hortensis</i> exhibited the activity against 25 bacteria, 8 fungi, and a yeast, <i>C. albicans</i>; exerting the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values (MIC) ranging from 15.62 to 250 &micro;l/ml. Similarly, methanol extract of the plant also showed antimicrobial activity.