Study of the effectiveness of essential oils of Mentha aquatica L. and Pimpinella anisum L. in the microbiological stabilization of pasteurized plant extract of Cyperus esculentus L. in Mali

This study evaluates the antimicrobial properties of essential oils of Mentha aquatica and Pimpinella anisum in the stabilization of pasteurized plant extract of Cyperus esculentus in Mali. The extraction of essential oils was carried out by steam distillation of the aerial organs of M. aquatica harvested in Bamako and the seeds of P. anisum harvested at Diré in Timbuktu Region. Aging tests were carried out by direct incorporation of essential oils into plant extract of C. esculentus which is then pasteurized. The plants investigated have an essential oil extraction yield of 1.43% for M. aquatica and 2.14% for P. anisum. The results of the aging tests showed that the essential oils of M. aquatica and P. anisum exert a strong antimicrobial activity on the spoilage flora because it made it possible to extend the storage time of vegetable extract up to 32 days. The oils of these plants are therefore an effective alternative to chemical antimicrobials, many of which are harmful to the health of the consumer and it would be interesting to study the biological effect of the combination of these essential oils in the stabilization of this food since they are active on different microbial groups.