Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of essential oils from sicilian aromatic plants.

The essential oils from four Lamiaceae (Labiatae), Origanum onites L., Thymus capitatus Hoffmanns, et Link, commercial oregano and sage, and a Lauracea, Laurus nobilis L., have been characterized and tested against eight bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Hafnia alvei, Micrococcus luteus, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Steptococcus faecalis), and five fungi (Aspergillus niger, A. terreus, two strains of Candida albicans, Fusarium sp.). The highest and broadest activity, both antibacterial and antifungal, was shown by the oils of O. onites, T. capitatus and commercial oregano, in that order, while oils from commercial sage and L. nobilis were almost inactive. Bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties of the five essential oils are also discussed.