The antimicrobial activity of Monarda fistulosa L. (Lamiaceae), very rich in thymol (Heinlich, 1977), was tested on the following 10 micro-organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus Oxford, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus viridans, Neisseria sicca, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Peptostreptococcus, Candida albicans, Geotrichum candidum and Bacillus subtilis.
Aquaous and water-ethanol extract of Monarda, as well as its essential oil, were tested. For the most representative micro-organisms minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and contact times were also determined. The remarkable antimicrobial activity on Peptostreptococcus and anaerobe mixed flora of the tested salivary secretion, makes possible to use these extracts in pharmaceutical preparations with antiseptic effect for the mouth and throat wash.
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