Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Thymus ciliatus growing wild in North Eastern Algeria.

ABSTRACT

The essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of Thymus ciliatus harvested in the region of Tawra (North-East of Algeria) gave a yield of 2.5%. Its analysis by GC / MS has allowed the identification of twenty- four elements, mainly phenols and terpenes. The main components were Thymol (67.78 %), p- cymene (12.25%), pseudo- limonene (5.10 %), and γ-terpinène (4.42 %). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated on two pathogenic foodborne bacterial strains Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes. These pathogens showed high sensitivity with respect to the essential oil with respective inhibition diameters of 28.6and 40mm of relatively low MICs of 0.18mg / ml. Due to these results, we may propose the use of this natural substance as a substitute for additives used in food protection.