THE ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CUMIN, THYME AND ANISE EXTRACTS ON SOME PATHOGENIC AND FOOD SPOILAGE BACTERIA

The cold and hot water extracts of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and Anise (Piminella anisum) were examined for their antimicrobial activity against some food borne pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhlmurium and Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus and food spoilage bacteria such as Bacillus cereus and B. steamthermophilus. The hot extraction method of the used plant parts gave a pronounced inhibition effect as well as bactericidal activity more than the cold extraction method. it was found that hot water extracts of cumin and thyme have the strongest inhibition effect on E coli, S. typhlmurium and Staph, aureus subsp. aureus when experimented by disc diffusion assay method. Moreover, E. coli was also strongly inhibited by the hot water extract of anise. On the other hand, B. cereus and B. steamthermophilus were slightly inhibited by hot extract of cumin and thyme. Whereas, Anise extracts show no inhibition effect on Staph, aureus subsp. aureus, B. cereus and B. steamthermophilus. The extracts which exhibit strong inhibition effect were examined for their bactericidal activity by using of kill curve method. It was found that cumin and thyme extracts have bactericidal effect on E. coli, S. typhlmurium and Staph, aumus subsp. aureus. While, Anise extract has bactericidal effect only on E. coli.