Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis and Trachyspermum copticum essential oil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis and Trachyspermum copticum essential oils against different kinds of microorganisms in vitro. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by micro broth dilution assay and analysis of essential oils chemical composition by GC and GC/MS analysis. Thymol, p-cymene, γ-terpinene and carvacrol were the main components of S. hortensis oil while thymol, γ-terpinene, and o-cymene were the major components of T. copticum oil. Two essential oils exhibited strong antimicrobial activity but the antimicrobial activity of T. copticum oil was higher than that of S. hortensis oil. Thymol as a main component of oils plays an important role in antimicrobial activity.