Studies on essential oils: Part 10; Antibacterial activity of volatile oils of some spices

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 16; no. 7; pp. 680 - 682
• Main Authors: Singh, G., Kapoor, I. P. S., Pandey, S. K., Singh, U. K., Singh, R. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.11.2002
• Subjects: Anethum graveolens; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; antibacterial activity; antibiotics; Apiaceae; Carum; Coriandrum; Cuminum; essential oils; Foeniculum; Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phytotherapy; Pimpinella; Plant Oils - administration & dosage; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Plant Oils - therapeutic use; Plants, Medicinal; spices
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.951

The essential oils extracted from the seeds of seven spices, Anethum graveolens, Carum capticum, Coriandrum sativum, Cuminum cyminum, Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum and Seseli indicum have been studied for antibacterial activity against eight pathogenic bacteria, causing infections in the human body. It has been found that the oil of C. capticum is very effective against all tested bacteria. The oil of C. cyminum and A. graveolens also gave similar results. These oils are equally or more effective when compared with standard antibiotics, at a very low concentration. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.