title: Influence of growth phase on the essential oil composition and antimicrobial activities of Satureja hortensis.
abstract: The variations in quantity and quality of essential oils (EOs) from the aerial parts of cultivated Satureja hortensis were determined at different stages of harvesting. The EOs of air-dried samples were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The antimicrobial activity of the EOs was investigated by broth microdilution methods. The amount of EOs (w/w, %) were 2.3, 2.5, 2.0, and 1.8% at floral budding, full flowering, immature fruit, and ripened fruit stages, respectively. gamma-Terpinene was the major compound of the EO at all developmental stages, except the ripened fruit stage when it was replaced by carvacrol (46.4%). The EOs exhibited strong antibacterial activities against the tested bacteria. Moreover, the EOs either inhibited or killed the examined yeasts at concentrations ranging from 0.03-8.0 microL/mL. Considering the wide range of antimicrobial activities of the examined EOs, they might have potential to be used in the management of infective agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Jamal
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saharkhiz
authors.forename: Kamiar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zomorodian
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rezaei
authors.forename: Farshid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saadat
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rahimi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D031362:Satureja / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils