Essential oil of oregano and savory; chemical composition and antimicrobial activity

Abstract

The essential oils of oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum) and savory (Satureja thymbra) plants were obtained through steam distillation method. The chemical compositions of their essential oils were analyzed via GC-MS technique. Furthermore, their antimicrobial activities were studied by using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Their chemical composition was found as carvacrol (63.97%), p-cymene (12.63%) and linalool (3.67%) in oregano essential oil as major compounds and also, as carvacrol (42.7%), o-cymene (17.98%), linalool (9.65%), caryophyllene oxide (5.25%) and γ-terpinene (4.22%) in savory essential oil as major compounds. As a result, it can be said that that oregano and savory essential oil may be useful in the medicinal application and food industry as a preservative against harmful microorganisms.