The antimicrobial activity of some essencial oils was evaluated as follows: Origanum vulgare (oregano), Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Salvia officinalis (sage), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and Ocimum basilicum (basil), as well as the majority constituents carvacrol, thymol, cinnamaldehyde and cineole against 33 Staphylococcus spp isolates from herds of dairy goats. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined for each isolate by using broth microdilution method. Antimicrobial activity observed on the essencial oils of oregano, mexican oregano, thymus, well as to majoritary constituents of carvacrol, thymol and cinnamaldehyde. The descending order of antimicrobial activity were oregano = thyme > mexican oregano. The majority constituents carvacrol, thymol, cinnamaldehyde presented themselves more active than the verified by the essencial oils. The majority constituents, carvacrol and cinnomaldehyde were equally more active than thymol.
medicinal plants; phytotherapy; antimicrobial alternatives
