Phytochemical screening and in vitro antimicrobial activity of Thymus lanceolatus Desf. from Algeria

ObjectiveTo investigate the antimicrobial activity of an endemic Thyme, Thymus lanceolatus (T. lanceolatus), against a large number of pathogens.MethodsFour solvent extracts were evaluated for antimicrobial activity using disc diffusion method and MIC determination on twenty-one strains.ResultsT. lanceolatus extracts showed a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, especially ethanol extract with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 14 to 32 mm, and MIC values from 0.052 to 0.500 mg/mL. Chloroform extract was more active against Gram-positive bacteria, since it has an inhibitory potency on Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis at only 31 μg/mL. While, hexane and water extracts were less effective since they were inactive against several strains.ConclusionsThe findings of this study indicate that T. lanceolatus has a strong antimicrobial potential, which justifies its use in folk medicine for treatment of infectious diseases. Since this species is poorly investigated, further refined studies on it pure secondary metabolites are needed and very important, in the perspective to identify new antimicrobial molecules from this endemic plant.