The present study describes the volatile profile and antimicrobial activity of Thymus vulgaris (thymol chemotype), Thymus zygis
subsp. gracilis (thymol and two linalool chemotypes) and Thymus hyemalis Lange (thymol, thymol/linalool and carvacrol chemotypes)
essential oils extracted from seven plants cultivated in Murcia (Spain). Antimicrobial activities of the oils were evaluated for control of
growth and survival of 10 pathogenic microorganisms.
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis allowed for the identification of between 42 and 51 compounds as main volatile
constituents of each essential oil analyzed. Results presented here may suggest that the essential oils from T. hyemalis (thymol) followed
by T. hyemalis (carvacrol), T. zygis (thymol) and T. vulgaris possesses antimicrobial properties, and are a potential source of antimicrobial
ingredients for the food industry.
2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd