Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Foeniculum vulgare and Crithmum maritimum essential oils

The essential oils obtained from Crithmum maritimum L. (marine fennel) and two samples of Foeniculum vulgare Miller (common fennel) were analysed by G C and CC-MS and assayed for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The antioxidant activity of the oils was evaluated by two lipid model syst ems: a modified thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) assay and a sp ectrophotometric detection of hydroperoxydienes from linoleic acid in a mic ellar system. The oils demonstrated antioxidant capacities, comparable in s ome cases to that of alpha -tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), used as reference antioxidants. Concerning the antimicrobial tests the esse ntial oils were assayed against twenty-five genera of bacteria, including a nimal and plant pathogens, food poisoning and spoilage bacteria. Oils from the two samples of F. vulgare showed a higher and broader degree of inhibit ion than that of C maritimum.