Chemical composition, antifungal and antibacterial potential of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and cumin (Carum carvi) essential oils (Apiaceae)

Danijela Pecarski, Nina Dragićević-Ćurić, Zorka Jugović

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of two Apiaceae species, cumin (Carum carvi) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). The essential oils from Carum carvi and Foeniculum vulgare fruits were isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity of essential oils was tested against standardised bacterial and fungi cultures: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Esherichia coli ATCC 25922, Candida albicans ATCC 24433, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 25929, using the agar diffusion method with wells. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that the main components of the essential oil of cumin were limonene (29,85%), p-cymene (25,60%), α pinene (13,25%) and eucalyptol (16,98%). The major constituents of fennel were trans-anethole (63,16%), l-fenchone (15,53%), estragole (6,43%), limonene (4,69%) and α pinene (4,33%). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for essential oils has been determined by the broth dilution method and valued in the range of 50 µL/ml - 100 µL/ml, depends on essential oil and bacteria tested, and for C. albicans. Moreover, the combination of essential oils and lactic acid confirmed synergistic and additive activities against the pathogens. Both essential oils, cumin on the first place, showed an inhibitory effect against most of tested bacteria and fungi. The Gram positive bacteria E. faecalis was resistant to both essential oils, as well as Gram negative bacteria E. coli that was resistant to the fennel essential oil activity. These results indicate that cumin essential oil have significant antimicrobial potential and it can be used in antimicrobial therapy as natural antimicrobial agent, or in combination with the other antimicrobial agents, which could be the subject of the further investigations.

Keywords: antimicrobial activity; cumin; essential oils; fennel

Date published: 2017-06-21