Antibacterial activity of the essential oils of endemic plants

Abstract

Background & Aim: Secondary metabolites with bioactive and functional properties in essence of aromatic plants can be useful for improvement of quality and persistence of food as natural preservative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the <em>in vitro</em> antibacterial of essential oils of some of the medicinal plants collected from Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, Iran. Experimental: The essential oil of Iranian medicinal plants including <em>Thymus daenensis </em>Celak, <em>T. carmanicus </em>Jalals, <em>Satureja</em><em> bachtiarica </em>Bunge, <em>S. khuzestanica</em> Jamzad and<em> S hortensis </em>L (Lamiceae) and <em>Kelussia odoratissima </em>Mozaff and <em>Heracleum lasiopetalum </em>Boiss were collected from southwest Iran. Plant materials were subjected to hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus according to the method recommended in BT. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils against <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> was tested by agar disc diffusion<em>.</em> Results & Discussion: The results showed that almost studied essential oils from seven herbs showed antibacterial activity. The essential oils of various species of Lamiaceae have higher antibacterial activity than Apieacea species.

Industrial and practical recommendations: In finally, the results obtained appeared to confirm the antibacterial potential of the plants investigated. <em>Satureja</em> species (savory) essential oils can be replaced the natural flavor preservative by synthetic preservative in food industry especially in production of meat.