Phytochemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Trachyspermum Copticum L. Essential Oil, East Azerbaijan, Iran

Introduction: the aim of this study was to characterize the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of trachyspermum copticum essential oil (eo). methods: the chemical composition of seed samples obtained from mianeh city in east azerbaijan, was assessed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (gc-ms). the antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion method against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa), other extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (esbls) producing, as well as gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. the minimum inhibitory concentration (mic) value of eo was assessed using agar dilution method. results: thirteen monoterpene hydrocarbons (57.6%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (42.4%) compounds were identified in the eo, of which, 3 compounds, including thymol, m-cymene, and, γ-terpinene were the major components of the eo with quantities of 41.9, 33.53, and 20.42%, respectively. the eo showed antimicrobial activity against ten microorganisms, especially streptococcus sanguis, s. aureus (mrsa strain), and klebsiella pneumoniae (esbl-producing strain), which was potentially better than tetracycline and kanamycin. conclusion: this study confirmed that eo of t. copticum has in vitro antimicrobial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, which has made it an alternative antibacterial agent. j med microbiol infec dis, 2015, 3 (3-4): 71-74