EXTRACTION OF COMPOUNDS FROM THYME LEAVES AND THIER ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Abstract

Thyme plant leaves were collected from locally Khanaqin marked-Diyala, Iraq. Volatile oil successfully was extracted from leaves of thyme using aqueous extract method. The aqueous extracted oil yield was 4 %. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis appeared five zones; four of these zones were identified. The composition of the oil extract present were carvacrol (23.7%), p-Cymene (10.4%), Camphor (0.9) and thymol (19.7%) besides othor unknown compounds. The volatile oil possessed antimicrobial activity against some human pathogenic bacteria and more over fungi, while, the activity was mainly attributed to thymol and carvacrol. The study can confirm possible use of volatile oil as food preservative to prevent growth of food born bacteria.