Thyme essential oil as natural leather preservative against fungi

Abstract

This work covers the chemical composition of essential oil isolated from thyme (Thymus vulgaris) analyzed using GC-MS and its antifungal activity. The main components of Thymus vulgaris oil were tymol (32.43%) and carvacrol (57.355%). The thyme oil was assayed for antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger on sheepskins for footwear lining treated with thyme oil at a rate of 30g/1000g wet blue leather, during fatliquoring process. These pathogens are very contagious and result in severe damage of leather. Compounds were investigated by ASTM D4576-86 (1996) method against Aspergillus niger and by Standard SR EN ISO 20645:2004 against Candida albicans. The essential oil of thyme showed the best antifungal activity on sheepskins for footwear lining.