Gc/Ms Analysis of Thymus Vulgaris Essential Oil and Antibacterial Effect Towards Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Abstract

Introduction: Thymus vulgaris, often referred to as thyme, is a member of the Lamiaceae family, known for its many medicinal and culinary attributes. This plant is prevalent in hilly and semi-arid regions of North Africa, especially Algeria, where it grows naturally. In Algeria, thyme plays a significant role in traditional medicine and is often used in herbal teas, essential oils, and herbal formulations.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the chemical composition and the antibacterial effects of Thymus vulgaris essential oil from Algeria.

Methods: The essential oil was extracted via hydrodistillation and subsequently analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and the antibacterial effects of the essential oil was assessed using well diffusion and dilution assays against three standard strains and ten multidrug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

 Results: The results revealed that there are 28 different compounds in the T. vulgaris essential oil, the main compounds are thymol at 27.28%, phenol, 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)- at 21.32%, and benzene, 1-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)- at 20.2%.  The results of the antibacterial effects demonstrated that T. vulgaris exhibits an excellent antibacterial effect with an inhibitory diameter ranging from 48.67±1.53 to 52.5±1.32 mm, MIC values from 1 to 2 µL/mL, and MBC values ranging from 1 to 4 µL/mL. The MBC/MIC ratio was always inferior to four, indicating a bactericidal effect rather than a bacteriostatic effect.

Conclusions: the essential oil exhibits a diversity of compositions with significant antibacterial effect against S.aureus. Therefore, T. vulgaris essential oil could be effective as an alternative antibacterial agent for the treatment various types of infections, especially those caused by S.aureus.