Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Antifungal activity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil: Disc diffusion versus vapor diffusion methods

International Conference on Food Microbiology

August 08-10, 2016 Birmingham, UK

Mohamed Nadjib Boukhatem, Mohamed Amine Ferhat, Abdelkrim Kameli, Fairouz Saidi and Djamel Teffahi

Ecole Normale Supérieure de Kouba, Algeria
Université Blida 1, Algeria
Laboratoire d�??Hygiène de Blida, Algeria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae family) is an aromatic herb used as a traditional therapy because of their pharmacological activities. However, to the best of our knowledge, no systematic studies comparing antifungal potential (in liquid and vapor phase) of the essential oil (EO) are available. The composition of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (TVEO) and its antifungal activity against yeast strains and filamentous fungi were investigated. The extraction of TVEO was obtained by steam distillation. Chemical composition of the EO from thyme grown in Algeria was determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 13 compounds were identified. Carvacrol (83.8%) was the major component, followed by cymene (8.15%), terpinene (4.96%) and linalool (1.44%). Antifungal action of the TVEO against nine clinically isolated molds and eight yeast strains was determined by using standard agar disc diffusion and vapor diffusion methods at three different doses (20, 40 and 60 μl per disc). By disc diffusion method, TVEO showed potent antifungal activity against Candida strains more than antifungal drugs (Amphotericin B). The Diameter of Inhibition Zone (DIZ) varied from 34 to 60 mm for Candida yeasts. However, the results obtained by both agar diffusion and vapor diffusion methods were different. Significantly higher antifungal activity was observed in the vapor phase at lower concentrations. Candida albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis were the most susceptible strains to the oil vapor with DIZ varied from 35 to 90 mm. Therefore, smaller doses of EO in the vapor phase can be inhibitory to pathogenic yeasts. Else, the DIZ increased with increase in concentration of the oil. There is growing evidence that TVEO in vapor phase are effective antifungal systems and appears worthy to be considered for practical uses in the prevention or treatment of candidiasis and fungal infections. The present study indicates that TVEO has considerable antifungal activity, deserving further investigation for clinical applications. Also whilst the mode of action remains mainly undetermined, this experimental approach will need to continue.

Biography :

Email: mac.boukhatem@yahoo.fr