Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Profiling of Pimpinella anisum Oils and its Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities

Essential and fixed oils of anise plant Pimpinella anisum growing in Iraq have been investigated regarding their chemical components, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Essential oils were extracted using the Clevenger-apparatus, while fixed oil was extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the analysis of the oil components. Six strains of bacteria, namely S. epidermidis, S. aureus, E. coli, B. cereus, P. vulgaris, and S. typhimurium were tested against the antimicrobial activity of each oil. Anise oil demonstrated a broad antibacterial property range, against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, through the inhibition zone. The antibiotic sensitivity test was performed by disk diffusion process against the test organisms. The agar dilution method was used at five different concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/mL) throughout the test. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for each volatile and fixed oil. The DPPH radical scavenging assay was used to test the antioxidant activities of essential and fixed oils. Anise oil showed excellent antioxidant activity, in comparison with the reference compounds. Anise oil has the potential to be used as a therapeutic, antimicrobial, and antioxidant agent.