title: Composition of the essential oils of Thymus and Origanum species from Algeria and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.
abstract: The composition of the essential oils of Origanum and Thymus species restricted to Algeria and the North Africa region was determined. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the isolated essential oils were also determined. The oils of oregano plants were strongly characterized by p-cymene (16.8-24.9%), gamma-terpinene (16.8-24.9%), thymol (8.4-36.0%), and carvacrol (1.1-29.7%), a thymol chemotype for Origanum floribundum and a alpha-terpineol chemotype for Thymus numidicus being described for the first time. The strains of Listeria monocytogenes tested were relatively resistant to the action of essential oils of either Origanum or Thymus species. All essential oils possessed antioxidant activity, but this was dependent on the specific chemical composition and the method employed to determine such activity.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Chimie, Laboratoire d'Analyse Organique Fonctionnelle, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumedienne, B.P. 32, El-Alia, Bab-Ezzouar, Alger 16111, Algeria.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hazzit
authors.forename: Aoumeur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baaliouamer
authors.forename: M Leonor
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Faleiro
authors.forename: M Graça
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Miguel
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D000081007:Cymenes; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031341:Origanum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013943:Thymol / Q000032:analysis; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C007210:4-cymene; D013943:Thymol; C018669:gamma-terpinene; C073316:carvacrol