title: Antimicrobial Activity of Basil, Oregano, and Thyme Essential Oils.
abstract: For centuries, plants have been used for a wide variety of purposes, from treating infectious diseases to food preservation and perfume production. Presently, the increasing resistance of microorganisms to currently used antimicrobials in combination with the appearance of emerging diseases requires the urgent development of new, more effective drugs. Plants, due to the large biological and structural diversity of their components, constitute a unique and renewable source for the discovery of new antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic compounds. In the present paper, the history, composition, and antimicrobial activities of the basil, oregano, and thyme essential oils are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Hercules
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakkas
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrissanthy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D031339:Ocimum; D018649:Ocimum basilicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031341:Origanum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C051168:basil oil
keywords: Essential oils; antimicrobial activity; basil; oregano; thyme