Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Cuminum cyminum L. collected in different areas of Morocco

Publication date: Available online 12 January 2018 Source:Food Bioscience Author(s): G.L. Petretto, F. Fancello, K. Bakhy, C.AL Faiz, Z. Sibawayh, M. Chessa, S. Zara, M.L. Sanna, M. Maldini, Jonathan P. Rourke, G. Pintore Essential oils from 8 Cuminum cyminum local populations collected in Morocco were investigated for their chemical composition and antimicrobial activity. The chemical composition, investigated by gas chromatographic technique, revealed a common fingerprint in all Moroccan samples: twenty-five compounds were identified with γ-terpinen-7-al being the major component in all samples studied. The antimicrobial activity of cumin essential oils were tested against 10 bacterial strains, belonging to 8 different species, and 6 yeast strains, belonging to 4 species. Lactic acid bacteria showed a good resistance to all essential oil tested while overall the cumin essential oils showed a strong antifungal activity that affected both maximum specific growth rate and lag time.
Source: Food Bioscience - Category: Food Science Source Type: research