Actividad antibacteriana del aceite esencial de Thymus vulgaris L. sobre Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. phaseoli y su efecto en la membrana citoplasmática.

The objective of this work was to determine the antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris L. plants cultivated in Cuba on Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. phaseoli and its effect on the cytoplasmic membrane. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by agar diffusion methods, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by serial dilutions. The cell death time assay was performed to assess the bactericidal effect rapidity. To determine the effect on the membrane, assays for bacteriolysis, loss of cell content, and total proteins release by the action of the oil were carried out. T. vulgaris essential oil showed a strong antibacterial activity on Xap1, with a MIC of 0.3 mg. ml-1 and a MBC of 0,6 mg. ml-1. At the MBC, this essence caused death of 106 UFC. ml-1 of Xap1 in 30 min of exposure. T. vugaris oil increased permeability of the Xap1 membrane with the egress of cellular components, which triggered cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]