Abstract

TOPICAL HERBAL ANTIMICROBIAL FORMULATION CONTAINING THYMUS LAEVIGATUS ESSENTIAL OIL

AM Othman*, NA Awadh, EAl-Fadhli and Mohamed Salama

Abstract

Hydro distilled essential oil obtained from Thymus laevigatus collected from Yemen was investigated for antimicrobial activity against different strains of bacteria and Candida albicans which were known to cause different types of skin infections. The minimum inhibitory concentration(MICs) were determined by micro dilution assay. Essential oil of Thymus laevigatus(EOTL)showed wide range of antimicrobial activities and a potent fungicidal effect against C. albicans with MIC value of 0.0313% v/v was recorded. Topical formulations containing 5% v/w EOTLwere prepared using different ointment bases. They were evaluated by agar diffusion assay against organisms under test in comparison with commercial antimicrobial products and different concentrations of EOTLin phosphate buffer saline solution. Ointment bases prepared withEOTLshowed greater antimicrobial activities than cream and emulgel bases. Macrogol ointment containing 5%v/w showed comparable inhibition zone to that of marketed products and to the EOTL solutions. It was concluded that the satisfactory antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Thymus laevigatus was achieved from macrogol ointment which could be used for further in vivo evaluation.

Keywords: Thymus laevigatus; Essential oil; Antimicrobialactivity; Topical Formulations; Macrogol ointment.