Planta Med 2012; 78 - PF12
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320559

Antimicrobial activity of ethanol extract of Thymus daenensis Celak. under different water conditions

M Ataei Kachoie 1, A Ghasemi Pirbalouti 1, 2
  • 1Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Department of Medicinal Plants, Researches Centre of Medicinal Plants & Ethno-veterinary, POBox: 166 Shahrekord, Iran,
  • 2Laboratories for Natural Products, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Ma, USA

Moisture deficiency induces various physiological and metabolic responses like stomatal closure and decline in growth rate and photosynthesis [1]. Thymus daenensis is an endemic subspecies of Iran and grows in high altitudes in Zagros mountains range [2]. An experiment was conducted in pot experimental of field, Shahrekord, Iran. Plants were exposed to three drought treatments at before of flowering: (1) 100% field capacity (control), (2) 20% field capacity, (3) 40% field capacity and (4) 60% field capacity until complete flowering. The antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract was tested assays against four pathogens by agar disc diffusion assay. The results of showed that the ethanol extracts from the different treatments studied showed antibacterial activities, with the diameters of the inhibition zone ranging from 8 to 31mm. Increased drought levels not significant reduced antibacterial activity as compared with controls. In the present study we demonstrated, the potent antibacterial activity of T. daenensis extract against foodborn pathogens strains, which justifies the large use of this plant in traditional medicine.

Key words: Thymus daenensis, water deficit, antimicrobial activity.

[1] Flexas, J., Medrano, H. 2002. Drought-inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants: stomatal and non-stomatal limitations revisited. Ann. Bot 89: 183–189.

[2] Ghasemi Pirbalouti, A., Rahimmalek, M., Malekpoor, F., Karimi, A. 2011. Variation in antibacterial activity, thymol and carvacrol contents of wild populations of Thymus daenensis subsp. daenensis Celak.. Plant Omics, 4: 209–214.