Anti-Bacterial Effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. Essential Oil on Eight Gastrointestinal Pathogenic Species

According to the worldwide development of antibiotic resistance in recent years, the tendency of using herbal medicine has grown and plants derived antibacterial substances have found many applications in controlling microorganisms. Thyme (Zataria multiflora Boiss.) is one of the medicinal herbs which its pharmaceutical and antibacterial effects have been a matter of research and debate in recent years. This research aimed to study antibacterial effects of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essence against 8 standard pathogenic bacterial species. In this experimental study, the essential oil was extracted by steam distillation using Clevenger apparatus. Using broth micro-dilution testing, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of thyme essential oil were determined against 8 standard pathogenic bacterial species. Each exam was repeated three times. The results were analyzed by SPSS 16 software using one-way ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests. The average of MIC for Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil showed a significant difference among 8 different bacterial species (p<0.001). The highest growth inhibitory effect was found against Bacillus cereus and the least one was against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There was no significant difference among the averages of MBCs (p=0.073). Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil has significant antibacterial effect.