Molecules 2009, 14(8), 2735-2746; doi:10.3390/molecules14082735
Article

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from Three Chemotypes of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart Growing Wild in Campania (Southern Italy)

Laura De Martino 1,* email, Vincenzo De Feo 1 email, Carmen Formisano 2 email, Enrico Mignola 2 email and Felice Senatore 2 email
1 Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano (Salerno), Italia 2 Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali, Università degli Studi di Napoli, “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano, 49, 80131 Napoli, Italia
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 29 June 2009; in revised form: 20 July 2009 / Accepted: 22 July 2009 / Published: 27 July 2009
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Abstract: Essential oils obtained from inflorescences of three Origanum vulgare L.ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart samples, growing wild in different locations in Campania (Southern Italy), were analysed. Three chemotypes were found: the first, with a prevalence of carvacrol/thymol; the second, characterized by the prevalence of thymol/α-terpineol; the third, featuring a prevalence of linalyl acetate and linalool. This chemical study attempts to provide a contribution in shedding light on the relationship between chemical composition and biotypes and/or chemotypes in Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum. The essential oils were also evaluated for their antibacterial activity against 10 selected microorganisms. The data obtained contribute to the future view to use the essential oils as natural preservatives for food products, due to their positive effect on their safety and shelf life.
Keywords: Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum; essential oil composition; thymol; carvacrol; linalyl acetate; antibacterial activity

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MDPI and ACS Style

De Martino, L.; De Feo, V.; Formisano, C.; Mignola, E.; Senatore, F. Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from Three Chemotypes of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart Growing Wild in Campania (Southern Italy). Molecules 2009, 14, 2735-2746.

AMA Style

De Martino L, De Feo V, Formisano C, Mignola E, Senatore F. Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from Three Chemotypes of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart Growing Wild in Campania (Southern Italy). Molecules. 2009; 14(8):2735-2746.

Chicago/Turabian Style

De Martino, Laura; De Feo, Vincenzo; Formisano, Carmen; Mignola, Enrico; Senatore, Felice. 2009. "Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from Three Chemotypes of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart Growing Wild in Campania (Southern Italy)." Molecules 14, no. 8: 2735-2746.

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