Abstract

Thymus is a traditional pharmaceutic plant which is also used as a spice and perfumed plant in different industries. In present study, Microwave Assisted Hydrodistillation (MAHD) and hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus methods. After preparation of essential oils, antioxidant properties were measured by two methods, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). BHT was used as positive control for comparison. Also antibacterial activities were screening against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococus aureus, and Listeria Monocytogenes) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli) by minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration (MIC and MBC) and disc and well diffusion method. Comparison between two extraction methods showed that extraction efficiency of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity at, Microwave Assisted Hydrodistillation method is more than hydrodistillation method. Results presented here suggest that the essential oil of Thymus transcapicus possess strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and therefore, they can be used as a natural preservative ingredient in food and/or pharmaceutical industry.