Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of two Origanum species

J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Sep;49(9):4168-70. doi: 10.1021/jf001494m.

Abstract

The essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Origanum scabrum and Origaum microphyllum, both endemic species in Greece, were analyzed by means of GC and GC-MS. Forty-eight constituents were identified, representing 98.59 and 98.66% of the oils, respectively. Carvacrol, terpinen-4-ol, linalool, sabinene, alpha-terpinene, and gamma-terpinene were found as the major components. Furthermore, both samples exhibited a very interesting antimicrobial profile after they were tested against six Gram-negative and -positive bacteria and three pathogenic fungi.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Gas / methods*
  • Fungi / drug effects
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Lamiaceae / chemistry*
  • Oils, Volatile / analysis*
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Oils, Volatile