Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of origanum dictamnus traditional herbal tea (decoction)

Abstract

In the framework of the re-evaluation of chemistry and biological properties of Greek herbal teas (decoctions), the objective of this study was the estimation of the total phenolic content and the antimicrobial activity as well as the chemical analysis of the water extracts (decoction) of three samples of Cretan dittany (Origanum dictamnus L) prepared in the traditional way to be used (drunk). Ten secondary metabolites were isolated and elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence for the first time from O. dictamnus drinkable decoction: carvacrol (1), β-sitosterol (2), uvaol (3), ursolic acid (4), rosmarinic acid (5), lithospermic acid (6), ferulic acid (7), cafeic acid (8), p-coumaric acid (9) and apigenin-7-O-glucoside (10). The samples showed a high total phenolic content (185.5-139.7 mg CAE/g) and an interesting antibacterial profile against Gram positive and negative human pathogenic microorganisms. Furthermore, the bioactivity against a panel of Malassezia strains was estimated.