Studies on the Antimicrobial activity of the volatile oil of thymus vulgaris

ABSTRACT

The antimicrobial activity of the volatile oil of Thymus vulgaris was studied towards 6 different microorganisms. The oil was found to possess marked antifungal and antibacterial activities. The oil had a more inhibitory action against fungi than bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] was 0.019% w/v with fungi, and ranged between 0.019 and 0.78% w/v with bacteria. Thymol, the main constituent of the oil, however, exhibited a weak activity towards the tested bacteria and fungi. The influence of pH and Tween 20 on the antibacterial activity of the oil was also studied