the microbial load was adjusted to 106CFU mL−1 using a 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard. Plates containing 96 wells were prepared by dispersing, into each well, volumes from 187 to 194 L of Mueller Hinton broth, and from 1 to 12 Lof each sample of essential oils; then 5 L of inoculum was poured into the wells to obtain a final volume of 200 L