Caraway is one of the most important medicinal plant cultivated in Poland. Caraway essential oil performs medium antimicrobial activity, although it inhibits growth of many bacteria and fungi. The aim of the study was to evaluate microbiological activity of caraway oil obtained from fruit originated from different genotypes and investigate the correlation between this activity and essential oil content and its main components content. In the experiments done in 2008 and 2009, essential oil of 20 selected caraway genotypes originated from: European botanical gardens (17), cultivar 'Konczewicki' and our own breeding strains (2) was tested. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of oil, which inhibited standard bacterial strain was investigated. MIC value was recalculated to antibiotic units (AU). The microbiological activity of caraway oil of the tested objects was significantly different. The strongest activity performed oil of population from genotype Cluj (MIC = 0.16 mg mL-1; AU = 8650), while the weakest activity was determined for oil of population from genotype Krakow (MIC = 1.75 mg mL-1; AU = 582). A significant negative correlation was observed between MIC and carvone content, however positive correlation was observed between MIC and limonene content. Caraway essential oil exhibited medium antimicrobial activity and carvone can be recognized as a one of the active component.
caraway; carvone; essential oil; limonene; microbiological activity
