Antimicrobial activity of essential oils: the possibilities of TLC–bioautography

• DOI: 10.1002/ffj.1993
• Publication Date: 2010-04-07T00:16:38Z
• Authors: Györgyi Horváth; Noémi Jámbor; Anna Végh; Andrea Böszörményi; Éva Lemberkovics; Éva Héthelyi; Krisztina Kovács; Béla Kocsis
• Keywords: Clavibacter michiganensis; Thymol; Pathogenic bacteria; Linalyl acetate; Carvacrol; Eucalyptol

Abstract Essential oils are well‐known for their antimicrobial activity against different plant and human pathogenic microorganisms. The results of the most commonly used assays very different; sometimes reliability is questionable, therefore standardized methods need to be solve this problem. present study aims at phytochemical characterization some essential (thyme, lavender, eucalyptus, spearmint cinnamon) that important from therapeutic economic aspects optimized microbiological investigation effect on chemical composition was analysed with thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) controlled by gas (GC). antibacterial investigated using TLC‐bioautographic method. solvents applied in TLC developing systems were also tested. Our showed toluene, ethyl acetate, ethanol chloroform as assay had no inhibiting test bacteria. thyme, lavender cinnamon main components (thymol, carvacrol, linalool, eugenol) observed case two bacteria ( Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Pseudomonas syringae phaseolicola ) pathogens Staphylococcus epidermidis , S. saprophyticus strains aureus including one methicillin‐resistant strain). On whole, can related abundant components, but minor should taken into consideration. Direct bioautography more cost‐effective compares better traditional laboratory (e.g. disc‐diffusion, agar‐plate technique). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.