Abstract

The chemical composition of a yellow essential oil isolated from aerial parts by steam-distillation of Algerian Teucrium polium L. was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The oil was obtained with a yield of 0.21%. 27 components were identified. The major compounds were germacrene D (25.81%), bicyclogermacrene (13%), ß-pinene (11.69%) and carvacrol (8.93%). Furthermore, the essential oil was tested against five bacteria (three Gram-positive and two Gram-negative) and three fungi at different concentrations. Results showed that the oil exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with a minimum inhibitory concentrations of 3 to 5 µl/ml.

Key words: Teucrium polium L., Lamiaceae, essential oil, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, β-pinene, carvacrol, antimicrobial activity.