OBTAINING, CHARACTERISATION AND SCREENING OF THE ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF THE VOLATILE OIL EXTRACTED FROM Thymus serpyllum

The objective of this study was to obtain, characterise and evaluate the ability for mould spores inhibition of a volatile oil extracted from Thymus serpyllum. Volatile oil was obtained from dried herba of plant through steaming for 5 h using neo-Clevenger equipment modified by Moritz. The volatile oil was analysed using GC-MS, the results showing that the major components of the essential oil obtained are linalool, nerolidol, germacrene and limonene. The antifungal activity was evaluated on moulds isolated from food products (Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp. and Aureobasidium sp.), using the agar diffusion method on spores distributed in Petri dishes. The results show that the antifungal action of the Thymus serpyllum volatile oil is depending on the moulds tested (in the order Alternaria sp. > Aureobasidium sp.> Penicillium sp), on the oil concentration and on the maintaining time. From the concentrations tested, the maximum concentration (8 mg/disc volatile oil) has a good efficiency by inhibiting the germination of spores from 80 to 100%; the intermediate concentration of 4 mg/disc volatile oil is also effective, being recommended to be used in cases when the initial content of spores is not very high.