made a comparative study
of the in vitro antimicrobial action of LSO, and its major constituents
(thymol and carvacrol) against Streptococcus mutans, S.
mitis, S. salivarius and S. sanguis. Their results demonstrated a
strong antibacterial action of LSO, thymol and carvacrol against
these bacteria; however, the phenolic monoterpenes inhibited
bacterial growth at significantly lower concentrations. The major
constituents of LSO are thymol (50–59%), carvacrol (7–16%), -
cymene (6–9%) and eucalyptol (2–10%)