Analysis of essential oil composition of Thymbra spicata var. spicata: Antifungal, antibacterial and antimycobacterial activities

Abstract

The fresh leaves and brine of leaves of Thymbra spicata var. spicata (KARAKIZ™) were analyzed by hydrodistillation, headspace and GC/MS techniques. The main components were determined as carvacrol, p-cymene, β-myrcene, γ-terpinene, α-terpinene and trans-caryophyllene. The essential oil and the main compounds, carvacrol and trans-caryophyllene, have been tested against E. coli, S. epidermidis, B. subtilis, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, E. faecalis and C. albicans. While the essential oil and carvacrol showed strong activity against all microorganisms, except P. aeruginosa, trans-caryophyllene showed activity only against C. albicans. The essential oil and carvacrol also showed strong antimycobacterial activity. © 2006 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung.