ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MINT ESSENTIAL OILS

The essential oils obtained from two mint species, Mentha pulegium and Mentha spicata, exhibited antimicrobial properties against eight stra ins of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The essential oils of these mint species at high concentration (1/100 dilution) were extrem ely bactericidal, whereas lower concentrations (1/1000) caused a dose- dependent decrease in bacterial growth rates. The main p-menthane comp onents of the tested essential oils showed a variable degree of antimi crobial activity not only between different bacterial strains but also between different strains of the same bacteria.