The in vitro antimicrobial performance of topical semisolid formulations of the essential oil from Thymus vulgaris L. was assessed on major pathogenic microorganisms causing skin diseases. The essential oil wasobtained by hydrodistillation and formulated into five different semisolid vehicles. The inhibition zones of the active constituents released from their respective bases were determined by using agar well diffusionmethod. The formulations showed inhibition against the growth of microorganisms used in this study at a concentration of 1% (v/w). Bioactive compounds were released better from the hydrophilic preparationsthan from the hydrophobic ones. The release from macrogol blend was particularly better. The inhibition zone from macrogol blend against both the standard and clinical isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was alsofound to be better than those of Fuciderm® cream (2% sodium fucidate) and tetracycline hydrochloride ointment (3% tetracycline).
