Introduction to cultivation Angelica sylvestris var. sylvestris L.: Chemical composition of essential oil and antimicrobial activity

This pioneering study investigates the essential oil content, fruit yield, and antimicrobial activity of Angelica sylvestris. var. sylvestris, comparing specimens from wild populations and cultivated between 2017 and 2022. The research documented fruit yields, which were consistent across the years, ranging from 191.7 to 208.0 g/plant. Essential oils extracted from the fruits were analysed, revealing a content variation between 0.6% and 1.05%. The analysis identified 45 components, predominantly monoterpenes, including alpha-pinene, alpha-phellandrene, limonene, beta-cymene, isopropyl hexanoate, and beta-phellandrene. The chemical profiles of the essential oils from both naturally occurring and cultivated A. sylvestris var. sylvestris were largely similar. The antimicrobial activity of these essential oils was assessed against a range of pathogens, namely Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19115, and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. The activity varied according to the harvest year and the type of microorganism. Cultivated A. sylvestris var. sylvestris not only yielded a rich variety of essential oil components but also exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activities compared to its wild counterparts. These findings suggest that cultivation can be a sustainable means of producing high-quality essential oils with potent antimicrobial properties.