Broad-spectrum antibacterial properties of Thymus fallax

Following the crude extraction of aerial parts of Thymus fallax with methanol, the soluble fraction was tested for antibacterial activity using the disk diffusion assay. Four antibiotics, ofloxacin, sulbactam, cafoperazona, and netilmicin, were used as controls. The extract was shown to have pronounced antibacterial effects against 27 of 52 bacteria species. The results showed that the methanol extract of Thymus fallax had great potential for antibacterial activity, in particular against Arthrobacter atrocyaneus, Bacillus sphaericus, Enterobacter hormaechei, Staphylococcus cohni cohni, Pseudomonas syringae, and Kocuria rosea, and the extract inhibited growth of these bacteria at concentrations of 31.25-500 mu g/ml. Broad-spectrum antibacterial activity of the methanol extracts against known etiologic agents of diseases traditionally treated with Thymus fallax of similar preparations provides scientific justification for the use of the herb in ethnomedical practice in Turkey.