The essential oil isolated from Turkish tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) by hydrodistillation was analyzed by GC-MS. Thirty compounds representing 99.5% of total oil were identified. The predominant components in the oil were (Z)-anethole (81.0%), (Z)-beta-ocimene (6.5%), (E)-beta-ocimene (3.1%), limonene (3.1%), and methyleugenol (1.8%). The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the essential oils isolated from A. dracunculus, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia santonicum, and Artemisia spicigera oils were also evaluated. In general, the oils exhibited potent antifungal activity at a wide spectrum on the growth of agricultural pathogenic fungi. Among the oils, the weakest antifungal activity was shown by the oil of A. dracunculus. In many cases, the oils of A. absinthium, A. santonicum, and A. spicigera completely inhibited the growth of some fungal species. As compared with antibacterial activities of all of tested oils, A. santonicum and A. spicigera oils showed antibacterial activities over a very wide spectrum. However, the essential oils tested showed lower inhibition zones than the inhibition zones of penicillin. In addition, antioxidant and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities of tarragon oil were determined, and weak antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities were found in comparison to butylated hydroxytoluene.

The compositions of essential oils isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia santonicum, and Artemisia spicigera by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC-MS, and a total of 204 components were identified. The major components of these essential oils were camphor (34.9-1.4%), 1,8-cineole (9.5-1.5%), chamazulene (17.8-nd%), nuciferol propionate (5.1-nd%), nuciferol butanoate (8.2-nd%), caryophyllene oxide (4.3-1.7%), borneol (5.1-0.6%), alpha-terpineol (4.1-1.6%), spathulenol (3.7-1.3%), cubenol (4.2-0.1%), beta-eudesmol (7.2-0.6%), and terpinen-4-ol (3.5-1.2%). The antifungal activities of these essential oils were tested against 11 plant fungi and were compared with that of a commercial antifungal reagent, benomyl. The results showed that all of the oils have potent inhibitory effects at very broad spectrum against all of the tested fungi. Pure camphor and 1,8-cineole, which are the major components of the oils, were also tested for antifungal activity against the same fungal species. Unlike essential oils, these pure compounds were able to show antifungal activity against only some of the fungal species. In addition, the antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities of the essential oils, camphor, and 1,8-cineole were determined in vitro. All of the studied essential oils showed antioxidant activity, but camphor and 1,8-cineole did not.

Essential (volatile) oils of herbs and their components, products from the secondary metabolism of a plant, have many applications in folk medicine, food flavoring and preservation as well as in the fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. The antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of essential oils have been known for a long time, and a number of investigations have been conducted on their antimicrobial activities using various bacteria, viruses and fungi. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Free radicals, e.g., superoxide ions (O 2 · Ϫ ), hydroxyl radicals (OH · ) and non-free radical compounds, can be responsible for lipid peroxidation (deterioration) in foods [7][8][9] and for various diseases such as malaria, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, heart disease, stroke, arteriosclerosis, diabetes and cancer etc. 10,11) It has been reported that some synthetic antioxidant compounds such as butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole, commonly used in processed foods, have side effects. 12,13) Therefore, investigations on identifying the natural antioxidants have become very important issue. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] In this study, the leaves of Syrian oreganum (Origanum syriacum L.) were screened for their antioxidant activity as well as antimicrobial properties and chemical composition.O. syriacum is native to the eastern Mediterranean, southern Europe and western Asia, and is cultivated in many parts of the world and commonly called Syrian oreganum, bible hyssop or wild marjoram. The descriptions of O. syriacum are as follows: Subshrub to 90 cm, hirsute-tomentose. Branches to 10 pairs per stem, to 10 a lenght of cm. Leaves petiolate or subsessile (petiole to 8 mm), ovate, 5-35ϫ4-23 mm, acute or obtuse, entire or remotely serrulate or crenulate, veins raised on lower surface. Spicules in paniculate inflorescence, c. 5-25ϫ4 mm. Bracts obovate or elliptic, 2-5ϫ1.5-3.5 mm, acute or obtuse, entire or denticulate. Calyx c. 2.5 mm. Corolla 4.5-7.5 mm. Fl. 5-10. Calcareous rocks and slopes, often in partial shade, 200-2700 m. 22)The leaves of O. syriacum, a very popular Arab spice, have been used as an herbal (traditional) medicine, flavour, fragrance and for aromatherapy in the form of bath, massage, steam inhalation, and vapurization. 23,24) It is used in teas and cooked or baked foods. It has a strong oregano flavor and also is thought to be the "Hyssop" mentioned in the Bible and to have powers of spiritual purification.The essential oils from the leaves of Syrian oreganum reportedly have ovicidal, 25) bioherbicidal, 24) insecticidal, 26,27) antifungal 28) and antimycotic activities.29) The present study was undertaken to verify the chemical composition, antioxidant activities and antimicrobial activities of these oils from leaves of this plant growing in maquis in the southern part of Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this study, the leaves of Syrian oreganum [Origanum syriacum L. Science, Hiroshima University; 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan. Received June 19, 2003; accepted August 5, 200...

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The present study describes the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of methanol and water extracts of sweet and bitter apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels. The antioxidant properties of apricot kernels were evaluated by determining radical scavenging power, lipid peroxidation inhibition activity and total phenol content measured with a DPPH test, the thiocyanate method and the Folin method, respectively. In contrast to extracts of the bitter kernels, both the water and methanol extracts of sweet kernels have antioxidant potential. The highest percent inhibition of lipid peroxidation (69%) and total phenolic content (7.9 ± 0.2 μg/mL) were detected in the methanol extract of sweet kernels (Hasanbey) and in the water extract of the same cultivar, respectively. The antimicrobial activities of the above extracts were also tested against human pathogenic microorganisms using a disc-diffusion method, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of each active extract were determined. The most effective antibacterial activity was observed in the methanol and water extracts of bitter kernels and in the methanol extract of sweet kernels against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the methanol extracts of the bitter kernels were very potent against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (0.312 mg/mL MIC value). Significant anti-candida activity was also observed with the methanol extract of bitter apricot kernels against Candida albicans, consisting of a 14 mm in diameter of inhibition zone and a 0.625 mg/mL MIC value.