Essential Oil Yield Pattern and Antibacterial and Insecticidal Activities ofTrachyspermum ammiandMyristica fragrans
Two Indian spices,Trachyspermum ammiandMyristica fragrans,were studied for their essential oil (EO) yielding pattern, insecticidal activity, antibacterial activity, and composition. The essential oils (EOs) ofT. ammi(1.94±30 mL/100 gm) andM. fragrans(5.93±90 mL/100 gm) were extracted using hydrodistillation method. In Gas Chromatography analysis, the beta-pinene, alpha-pinene, alpha-p-menth-1-en-4-ol, Limonene, and elemicin were found as major constituents ofT. ammiessential oil whereasM. fragransessential oil mostly contains Gamma-Terpinolene, p-Cymene, Thymol, and beta-pinene. The insecticidal activities of EO were demonstrated using LC50values againstPlodia interpunctellaand EO ofT. ammiwas found comparatively more effective than EO ofM. fragrans.Further, individual EO and combination of essential oil were examined for antibacterial activity against three Gram (−) bacterial strains (E. coli-MTCC 443,P. vulgaris-MTCC 1771, andK. pneumoniae-MTCC number 7028) and three Gram (+) bacterial strains (S. aureus-MTCC 3381,B. subtilis-MTCC 10619, andB. megaterium-MTCC 2412) by well agar diffusion method. The essential oil in combination (CEO) exhibited higher antibacterial activity as compared with individual essential oils.