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The essential oil of Tarchonanthus camphoratus (Asteraceae), obtained by hydro-distillation, was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and also evaluated for antimicrobial activity. Out of 45 peaks representing 99.8% of the oil, 38 components which constitute 95.8% of the total oil were identified. The oil was dominated by monoterpenes, which accounted for 80.9% of the oil. This study indicates the presence of a high percentage of oxygenated monoterpenes (62.3%), of which the main constituents were fenchol (15.9%), 1,8-cineole (14.3%) and α-terpineol (13.2%). Other monoterpenes present in fairly good amounts were α-pinene (6.87%), trans-pinene hydrate (6.51%), terpinen-4-ol (4.74%) and camphene (3.76%). The oil was screened for antimicrobial activity against both Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus ssp.) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis) bacteria and a pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Except for P. aeruginosa, which showed resistance, the oil had pronounced antibacterial and antifungal activities.

Hydro-distilled essential oil from Satureja biflora (Lamiaceae) growing in Kenya was analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and also evaluated for antimicrobial activity. Twenty two compounds which constitute 99.29 % of the total oil were identified. The oil was dominated by monoterpenes, which accounted for 62.02 % of the oil. This monoterpene fraction was characterized by a high percentage of linalool (50.60 %) such that this Satureja species can be classified as the linalool chemotype. The other major monoterpenes were α-terpineol (2.80 %), β-ocimene (2.25 %), β-pinene (1.96 %) and cis -linalool oxide (1.91 %). Sesquiterpenes present in fairly good amounts are germacrene D (10.63 %), α-cadinol (4.53 %), β-bourbonene (2.33 %), δ-cadinene (2.19 %), τ-cadinol (2.17 %), endo-1-bourbonanol (2.14 %) and β-caryophyllene (1.98 %). Aliphatic alcohols and acids accounted for 7.23 % of the oil, of which the major one was linoleic acid (4.48 %). The oil was screened for antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive ( Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus ssp. ) and gram-negative ( Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pheumoniae, Proteus mirabilis ) bacteria and a pathogenic fungus ( Candida albicans ). To the best of our knowledge nothing concerning the chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil of S. biflora has been reported. KEY WORDS : Satureja biflora , Essential oil, Antimicrobial activity Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2007 , 21(2), 249-254.