title: Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil from the Carpathian Thymus alternans Klokov.
abstract: The genus Thymus includes several species that are used as flavouring, food preservative as well as in cosmetics. Their secondary metabolites have been extensively studied for pharmacological effects. Nonetheless, some species are neglected and deserve to be explored for chemical composition and biological activities. This is the case with Thymus alternans, a Carpathian bush used as a food additive and for the preparation of a traditional herbal medicine. In this work, we have analysed the chemical composition of T. alternans essential oil by GC and GC-MS and evaluated its antimicrobial and antioxidant activity by disc diffusion, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods, respectively. Results showed that T. alternans belongs to the nerolidol chemotype, being rich of this sesquiterpene alcohol (15.8%) which might contribute to the antimicrobial (particularly effective on C. albicans growth) and antioxidant (weak inhibition on ABTS radical and reducing power) activities observed.
authors: a School of Pharmacy , University of Camerino , Camerino , Italy.
authors: Luca A
authors: LA
authors: Vitali
authors: b Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Dall'Acqua
authors: a School of Pharmacy , University of Camerino , Camerino , Italy.
authors: Filippo
authors: F
authors: Maggi
authors: c Department of Botany , Institute of Biology and Ecology, P. J. Šafárik University , Košice , Slovakia.
authors: Pavol
authors: P
authors: Martonfi
authors: d School of Science and Technology , University of Camerino , Camerino , Italy.
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Papa
authors: e School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine , University of Camerino , Camerino , Italy.
authors: Dezemona
authors: D
authors: Petrelli
authors: b Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Sut
authors: a School of Pharmacy , University of Camerino , Camerino , Italy.
authors: Giulio
authors: G
authors: Lupidi
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007558:Italy; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010851:Picrates; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010851:Picrates; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C002502:2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
keywords: (E)-nerolidol; Thymus alternans; antimicrobial; antioxidant; essential oil