Antibacterial activity and composition of essential oils from Origanum, Thymbra and Satureja species with commercial importance in Turkey

The antibacterial activity of essential oils and their derivatives has been recognized for a long time. In the present study, the chemical composition and the antibacterial properties of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of the four Lamiaceae species, wild oregano (Origanum minutiflorum) (endemic in Turkey), oregano (Origanum onites), black thyme (Thymbra spicata) and wild savory (Satureja cuneifolia), with commercial importance in Turkey, were evaluated. The major constituent of the oils determined by GC was cavracrol (86.9% in O. onites, 84.6% in O. minutiflorum, 75.5% in T. spicata and 53.3% in S. cuneifolia). Four essential oils were investigated for activity against Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, B. brevis, B. cereus, B. subtilis, Corynebacterium xerosis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Micrococcus luteus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica, using a paper disc diffusion method. All essential oils inhibited all bacteria at concentrations of <1/100 (v/v). The essential oil of T spicata was the most active. B. amyloliquefaciens was the most sensitive. The results of this study confirmed the possibility of using these four essential oils in food systems to prevent the growth of foodborne bacteria and extend the shelf life of processed foods. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.