Physicochemical study and antimicrobial activity of the oil of Trigonellafoenum graecum

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activity of the oil from Trigonellafoemnum-graecum. The oil yield was (37%). The physicochemical presents that moisture was (1.75%), refractive index at (30°C) (1.4743), density (0.855g/cm3), saponification value (0.2mg KOH/g), peroxide value (0.5mg O2/100g) and acid value was (3.4mg KOH/g). GC-MS analysis shows that the dominant fatty acids are (9.12) Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z) methyl ester (43.48%), 9, 12, 15- Octadecatrienoid acid, methyl ester, (Z, Z, Z) (20.15%), Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (16.35%) and Stearic acid (8.77%). The oil shows antimicrobial activity against Candida moderate. Significant activity against gram Positive Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.