Paper Details

Antimicrobial activity and essential oil composition of Cuminum cyminum L. and Carum carvi L. seeds from Iran

Zinab Ghafari, Ardalan Alizadeh, Ramin Babadaei Samani

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/4.6.153-159

Int. J. Biosci. 4(6), 153-159. March, 2014. (PDF)`

Abstract:

The essential oils of Cuminum cymnum and Carum carvi seeds obtained from Iran, were screened for their antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. Essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation using Clevenger type apparatus during approximately 3 hours and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Forty one components were identified in C. cyminum oil that represented 99.98% of the oil. The main components of the oil were, α-Terpinene-7-al (33.48%), n-Dodecane (25.54%), Cumin aldehyde (14.56%), 1,8-Cineole (9.4%), α-Terpinene (4.76%) and Sabinene (4.74%). Forty one components were identified in C. carvi oil that represented 99.97% of the oil. The main components of the oil were, -Terpinene (17.79%), -Terpinene-7-al (16.81%), 9-epi-(E)-Caryophyllene (14.92%), Cumin aldehyde (13.68%), α-Terpinene-7-al (7.21%), p-Cymene (5.21%) and Limonene (4.40%). Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils were evaluated by disc diffusion methods. The oils showed high antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Escherchia coli two medically important pathogens.