Antimicrobial Efficacy of the Essential Oil of Origanum Vulgare From Algeria

Author(s): Hicham Boughendjioua and Ratiba Seridi

Objective: This study aimed to identify the chemical composition and the antibacterial properties of essential oil from origanum vulgare growing wild in Algeria.

Methods: The antibiotic activity of the essential oil was assessed on 05 strains of Bacillus (B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42, B. amyloliquefaciens S499, B. subtilis ATCC 21332, B. licheniformis ATCC 14580, B. pumilus), using the method of diffusion in a solid medium. MIC was determined by the method of integration in an agar medium.

Results: The essential oil extracted from the aerial part of Origanum vulgare harvested in Azzaba located at Skikda city (North-east of Algeria) gave a yield of 2.50 %. Its analysis by CG/SM allowed the identification of 25 components, principally phenols and terpenes. The main constituents are p-Cymene (24.01 %), Thyme (23.49 %) and Carvacrol (21.31 %). The five strains showed high sensitivity towards the essential oil with inhibition diameters ranging from 21.5 mm to 41 mm and a MIC of 0.4 mg/ml.

Conclusion: The essential oil of Origanum vulgare proved to be endowed with bactericidal properties against Bacillus strains.