Abstract

The rising occurrence of multidrug-resistant bacteria underscores the critical need for alternative therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to investigate the yield, chemical composition, and antimicrobial properties of essential oils extracted from Thymus satureioides, Origanum majorana, and Rosmarinus officinalis, sourced from the Benslimane region in Morocco. Essential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation, their chemical composition was analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their antimicrobial potential was assessed against 27 multidrug-resistant Salmonella strains. The essential oil of Thymus satureioides was primarily composed of thymol (28.7%) and borneol (21.2%). Origanum majorana contained high levels of terpinen-4-ol (34.2%), while Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil was rich in 1,8-cineole (50.3%). Thymus satureioides demonstrated the highest efficacy, with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC: 0.15 mg/mL) and the most pronounced inhibition zones (30.3 ± 0.02 mm). Origanum majorana indicated moderate antibacterial activity. Rosmarinus officinalis, on the other hand, showed variable but generally lower efficacy, with inhibition zones reaching up to 16.6 ± 0.1 mm and MIC values ranging from 2.35 to 9.4 mg/mL. These results highlighted the promising potential of Moroccan essential oils, particularly Thymus satureioides, as natural antimicrobials to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens in food safety and clinical applications.