The essential oils and n-hexane extracts of the four origanum
collections were analysed for antimicrobial activity against 4 Grampositive
bacteria, 2 Gram-negative bacteria, 1 fasteacid bacterium
and 3 yeasts. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds thymol,
carvacrol, methyl-carvacrol, p-cymene and g-terpinene present in
the constitution of the essential oils was also evaluated. All
essential oils, n-hexane extracts and the isolated compounds
showed moderately activity when compared to the standard antibiotics
(Tables 4 and 5). The essential oils did not differ remarkably
in their activity against the tested microorganisms.