Screening of antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Calamintha baetica

Abstract

Calamintha baetica Boisson & Reuter is an aromatic plant native from Iberian Peninsula largely used by Portuguese populations in traditional food as seasoning and by folk medicine for relieves respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. The present study reports on the antimicrobial activity of its essential oil obtained from aerial parts of plants collected in Évora, Portugal. Chemical composition, determined by GC-FID, showed that major components of essential oil were linalool (34.1%), isomenthone (17.7%) and limonene + 1,8-cineole (16.2%). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against eight pathogenic bacteria strains, four pathogenic yeasts and five filamentous saprophytic fungi, using disc diffusion assay. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for sensible strains. The high antimicrobial activity and the large spectra observed suggest that essential oil of C. baetica has high potential for pharmacological applications and/or as phytotherapeutic agent.