Phytochemical composition of Cuminum cyminum and its biological activity

Cumin ( Cuminum cyminum ) seeds were extracted by methanol to examine the properties of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts. GC/MS analysis enabled the identification of 31 bioactive compounds from C. cyminum . The major phytochemical constituents in the C. cyminum extract are Adamantane methanol; 14.15 %, Octanal dimethyl acetal; 11.34 %, S,S-dimethyl 1,2-hydrazine; 8.24% and 2,6-dimethyl, 2,4-heptadiene, was represented as 6.24%. In order to develop biobactericides and biofungicides, the antibacterial, antifungal activity and action mode of cumin against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi were evaluated. The highest antibacterial activity value was 16 mm recorded against E. coli and P. aeruginosae . Moreover, petroleum ether extracts of C. cyminum gave antifungal activity against C. albicans , P. notatum and A. niger (2 - 8 mm) but, there was no action against A. alternata and F. oxysporium . The chloroform extract of C. cyminum showed excellent antioxidant activity (30.486 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g dry wt.) and deserves further investigations.