ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIRADICALS ACTIVITY OF ORIGANUM VULGARE L. AND THYMUS VULGARIS ESSENTIAL OILS

The objective of our study were antioxidant properties of oregano and thyme essential oil by testing their scavenging effect on DPPH radicals activities and antibacterial activities against one Gram-positive strain (Bacillus cereus CCM 2010) and two Gram-negative strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCM 1960; Escherichia coli CCM 3988) was also performed. The thyme EOs showed strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli CCM 3988 in 0.75 and 0.375 ml.ml(-1) concentration of EOs. Very strong antibacterial activity was found in thyme and oregano EOs against Bacillus cereus CCM 2010 in 0.75, 0.375, 0.188 and 0.094 ml.ml(-1) concentration of EOs. In comparison to BHT (5.60 mu g.ml(-1) after 30 min; 2.82 mu g.ml(-1) after 60 min) and ascorbic acid (7.48 mu g.ml(-1) after 30 min; 4.79 mu g.ml(-1) after 60 min), O. vulgare oil shows significantly higher DPPH activity (2.99 mu l.ml(-1) after 30 min; 2.02 mu l.ml(-1) after 60 min). From the other side, T. vulgaris essential (9.69 mu l.ml(-1) after 30 min; 5.84 mu l.ml(-1) after 60 min) oil shows lower antiradical activity in comparison to BHT, and higher activity in comparison to ascorbic acid.