In vitro antibacterial activitie of essential oil and aqueous extracts of Thyumus fontanesii and Eucalyptus against subclinical mastitis pathogens

The treatment of microbial infections requires a large use of antibiotics which is, partially, responsible for the appearance of resistant strains to antibiotics in dairy cows. However, many photochemical compounds, including the essential oils, are becoming interesting as potential source of natural bioactive molecules. The antibacterial activity of the studied essential oils was evaluated by aromatogram and microdilution in medium liquid. The results show that the essential oil of Thymus fontanesii has the biggest antibacterial action against all the bacterial strains comparing with the Eucalyptus oil. However, the aqueous extracts of Thymus fontanesii and Eucalyptus indicate a moderate antibacterial activity against the strains of Staphylococcus aureus. On the other hand there is no effect on Escherichia coli strains. The most strong activity inhibitory was get with the essential oil of Eucalyptus against Staphylococcus aureus strains with CMI of 0.39 μl/ml for Staphylococcus aureus ATCC and 1.562 μl/ml for Staphylococcus aureus pathogen in comparison with the essential oil of Thymus fontanesii which is more active against the Escherichia coli strains. The aqueous extract of Eucalyptus showed the best CMI and CMB against the Staphylococcus aureus strains in comparison with the aqueous extract of Thymus fontanesii. Comparative tests to the activity have been made with cefoxitin and gentamicin discs.