![Sample our Education journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5932/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Education.jpg"})
Abstract
Thymus plants has been used for several beneficial health properties including antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial potential in vitro of aerial part of Thymus atlanticus essential oil and phytochemical screening of the extracts. Results showed that carvacrol was the major component of the essential oil (85.13%). Phytochemical screening of the extracts showed that gallic tannins, flavonols, triterpenes, sterols and mucilage are present on high amount. Antioxidant activity (IC50), total phenolic and total flavonoid content of the extract obtained by soxhlet method and using hydromethanolic solvent recorded the highest values (0.029 mg/mL, 5.92 mg GAE/g and 0.86 mg QE/g respectively) compared to other extracts. The IC50 of the essential oil was equal to 0.990 µg/mL and therefore has exhibited an antioxidant power higher than the extracts. The essential oil of Thymus atlanticus showed a strong antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli compared to the fifteen pathogenic bacteria with an average inhibition zone of 32±1.0 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.3 µL/ mL. These findings indicate that Thymus atlanticus essential oil and extracts could be a source of potential antioxidant and antibacterial natural compound.