Analysis of essential oil of Satureja thymbra by hydrodistillation, thermal desorber, and headspace GC/MS techniques and its antimicrobial activity

Abstract

The essential oil composition of Satureja thymbra was analyzed by direct thermal desorber and Headspace GC/MS analysis methods. Its constituents were determined to be mainly carvacrol (40.15%), γ-terpinene (26.56%), p-cymene (16.39%), and thymol (13.16%). The other techniques, thermal desorber and Headspace GC/MS, were used for the plant leaves at three different temperature, which showed similar results. The thermal desorber GC/MS gave better and more sensitive results than Headspace GC/MS. The essential oil was found to be active against the bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella sonnei, and Staphylococcus aureus and the yeast Candida albicans.

Keywords:

• Satureja thymbra
• Essential oil
• Thermal desorber
• Headspace GC/MS
• Antimicrobial activity

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the technical assistance of Mrs. Therese Moon and Mr. Hüseyin Demir and thank Professor Hasan Seçen for his help.

Notes

*Corresponding author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Heather M.A. Cavanagh

*Corresponding author.