Antioxidative activity and synergistic effect of Thymus saturejoides Coss. essential oils with cefixime against selected food-borne bacteria

•Antioxidative capacity of EOs from T. saturejoides populations and their antibacterial potency (singly and in combination with cefixime) were investigated.•Carvacrol was found as a major compound in all T. satureioides oils.•Carvacrol levels are higher in the oil from Er-Rich population (arid site).•The best bioactivity and synergistic effects with cefixime were observed with oil from Er-Rich population.