Investigation of the Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Aqueous and Alcoholic Extracts of Mentha piperita L. and Thymus serpyllum L
Investigation of the Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Aqueous and Alcoholic Extracts of Mentha piperita L. and Thymus serpyllum L.
Summary
Key words: peppermint, creeping thyme, plant extracts, essential oils, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the use of medicinal plants as alternative sources of natural antibacterial and antifungal agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Mentha piperita L. and Thymus serpyllum L. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts obtained from plant material were used in this study. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the diffusion method against Escherichia coli, while antifungal activity was evaluated against Aspergillus niger. The effectiveness of the extracts was determined based on the diameter of inhibition zones and the dynamics of microbial growth suppression.
The results demonstrated that both plants exhibit significant antibacterial and antifungal activity. However, Thymus serpyllum L. showed higher activity compared to Mentha piperita L. Alcoholic extracts were found to be more effective than aqueous extracts. In addition, combined extracts exhibited more stable and prolonged activity, indicating a synergistic effect.
In conclusion, Mentha piperita L. and Thymus serpyllum L. represent promising sources of bioactive compounds with antibacterial and antifungal properties and may serve as a basis for the development of new phytopharmaceuticals.