Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate radical scavenging, antimicrobial and antiospasmodic activities in vitro and the composition of Thymus fallax Fisch. Mey. (labiatte) essential oil. The oil of T. fallax was analyzed by the GS-MS method. The sample was subjected to screening for possible antioxidant activity by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. Antimicrobial activities of the essential oil were determined on 9 micro-organisms using the agar-disc diffusion method. In rat ileum, direct effect of T. fallax essential oil was investigated on spontaneous contractions. GS/MS analysis of the oil resulted in the identification of 18 compounds, representing 92.41% of the oil; carvacrol (46.15%) was the main component. The essential oil exhibited strong antioxidant activity. It has antimicrobial activity on 8 of 9 microorganisms using the agar-disc diffusion method. T. fallax oil exhibited spontaneous contractions in rat ileum at 100% level at 0.1 mg/mL level. The essential oil of T. fallax has a strong antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antispazmodic activities as studied in our laboratory settings. T. fallax may therefore be regarded as a resourceful plant that can be used in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Key words: Thymus fallax, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-spazmodic activity.