Phenolic profile, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of Carum copticum L. essential oil

Ajowan (Carum copticum) is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Umbelliferae family. The seeds of Carum copticum have a therapeutic effect on some cutaneous, neural, and urinary tract disorders. The present study reports the chemical composition, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Carum copticum essential oil and its main compounds. The essential oil was obtained from the seeds of the Carum copticum by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC/MS. The major components were carvacrol (1%), p-cymene (23%), gamma-terpinene (23%), beta-pinene (5%), alpha-thujene (3%), sabinene (0.51%), alpha-phyllanderene (1.6%), alpha-pinene (1%), terpinene-4-ol (0.1%), thymol (26.03%), beta-phyllanderene (1%), myrcene (1%) and limonene (1.05%). The essential oil was also subjected to antifungal and antibacterial tests, using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) method. The essential oil was particularly active against Candida parapsilosis, with the lowest MIC and MBC value (1.05 mg/ml). Furthermore, the essential oil and its main compounds showed a potent NO scavenging effect and inhibited inducible NO synthase expression. In conclusion, these results support the use of the essential oil and its main compounds for their anti-inflammatory properties and antimicrobial activity.