Composition of Satureja kitaibelii essential oil and its antimicrobial activity.

The composition of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Satureja kitaibelii from Rtanj mountain (Serbia), collected during three years, was studied. Thirty-nine components were identified in each sample of S. kitaibelii essential oil, representing about 87% of the oils. p-Cymene was the most dominant compound in all three oils (27.9%, 14.7% and 24.4%, respectively). The simple formulation of a lozenge with 0.2% of S. kitaibelii essential oil was prepared and the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and the lozenge with essential oil was tested using a broth microdilution assay. Both essential oil and lozenge possessed strong antimicrobial activity with MIC values of 0.10-25 microg/mL, and 0.97-15.6 mg/mL, respectively.