Antimicrobial activity of five essential oils from lamiaceae against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Analysis of Lamiaceae essential oils (EOs)by GC-FID-MS revealed the presence as the major constituents of linalool (16.8 per cent), linalyl acetate (15.7 per cent)in Lavandula angustifolia, menthol (29.0 per cent), menthone (22.7 per cent), menthyl acetate (19.2 per cent)in Mentha x piperita, terpinen-4-ol (27.1 per cent), (E)-sabinene hydrate (12.1 per cent), ?-terpinene (10.0 per cent)in Origanum majorana, ?-thujone (19.5 per cent), camphor (19.0 per cent), viridiflorol (13.5 per cent)in Salvia officinalis, thymol (61.9 per cent), p-cymene (10.0 per cent), ?-terpinene (10.0 per cent)in Thymus vulgaris. Based on the MIC and MBC values (0.09-0.78 mg/mL)and ratio MBC/MIC showed that EO from T. vulgaris (TO)had the strong inhibitory and bactericidal effect against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The bacterial cells were total killed by TO at 2MIC concentration after 6 h. The higher concentrations of other EOs were needed to achieve bactericidal effects. The strong bactericidal effect of TO against these bacteria indicates the possibility of topical use of TO but it requires research under clinical conditions.