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The increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria has dramatically revived the interest in plant products as alternative antimicrobial agents to prevent the efficiency of pathogenic microorganisms. Our aim in this study is to show the antimicrobial activities of commercially obtained thyme, rose, centaury and ozone oils against the clinically important bacteria and yeasts.

The antimicrobial activity of the thyme, rose, ozone and centaury oils were tested against Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Enterococcus spp., Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus spp., Citrobacter freundii, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans strains. Disc diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer) was used to show the antimicrobial activity by measuring the zone diameters.

Most bacteria including Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (which is only sensitive to a few antibiotics) are found sensitive to the thyme oil. Gram positive bacteria and yeasts found more resistant than the Gram negative bacteria to the thyme oil. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus found sensitive to the rose oil. The anti-microbial activities of some herbal oils and ozone oil and rose oil were tried to be shown.

The thyme oil has a stronger antimicrobial activity than the rose, ozone and centaury oils. Herbal essential oils, especially thyme oil, are candidates to be alternatives in medical applications due to their anti-microbial effects.