The Inhibitory Effect of Ajowan Essential Oil on Bacterial Growth

Trachyspermum ammi or Carum copticum, commonly known as Ajowan or Ajwain is a plant used as a spice. Thymol, the major phenolic compound present in Ajowan is known as a strong germicide and antispasmodic. It is also used for cleaning the wounds and treating skin infections. Here, we aimed to study the inhibitory effects of Ajowan essential oil on microorganisms like Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella, and Staphylococcus aureus growth. Antibacterial activities of Ajowan essential oil (AEO) have been evaluated against two gram negative bacteria Klebsiella and E. coli and one gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value was determined against all mentioned bacteria. The antibacterial activity of AEO was assessed against all selected pathogens and different MIC levels were observed. The essential oil was effective for S. aureus with MIC of 1.25 mg/mL, followed by, E. coli with MIC of 2.5 mg/mL and Klebsiella with MIC of 5 mg/mL. The results of the present study showed that the AEO has antibacterial effects against human pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics. More studies should be performed to demonstrate the detailed mechanism of this antimicrobial effect.