CHEMICAL PROFILE AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF IMPORTANT HONEY PLANTS THYMUS NUMMULARIUS M. BIEB. AND VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS L.

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical and antimicrobial activity of two taxa which are important nectar and pollen plants for honey bees. Thymus nummularius M. Bieb. and Vaccinium myrtillus L. which produced by local people of Anzer. For this purpose, chemical compounds scanned by GC–MS system and antimicrobial activities were tested against major oral pathogens including Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277, Streptococcus salivarius DSM 13084, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans ATCC 90028 by agar well diffusion and broth microdilution. Aldehydes, alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters, ketones, terpenes, fatty acids and esters, acetic acids and esters and other chemical components were detected in different percentages in both T. nummularius. and V. myrtillus plants. A total of 30 chemical components were detected in T. nummularius. while 26 chemical components were found in V. myrtillus. Carvacrol, lauryl acetate, and thymol were detected 20.34%, 6.31% and 3.36%, respectively at high levels in T. nummularius. On the other hand, diethyl succinate, hexanoic acid, lauryl acetate and benzoic acid were determined 12.68%, 11.29%, 10.89% and 10.16% respectively predominantly in V. myrtillus. As a result of antimicrobial activity of two taxa, V. myrtillus. exhibited more potent antimicrobial activity when compared to T. nummularius. Antimicrobial activity of V. myrtillus against viridans streptococci and C. albicans was promising and maybe used for the treatment of cariogenic microorganisms or oral Candidiasis in future studies. Antimicrobial activity of V. myrtillus against viridans streptococci and C. albicans was promising and maybe used for the treatment of cariogenic microorganisms or oral Candidiasis in future studies.