Estudio de la composición química y actividad biológica de aceites esenciales de Cardamomo (Elettaria cardamomum) y Tomillo (Thymus vulgaris)

Abstract

Essential oils (AE) are complex mixtures of components of different chemical nature. One of the most complex biological activities studied in EAs is antimicrobial bioactivity as an alternative to bacterial resistance. On the other hand, the study of the phytotoxicity of AE is of great importance to determine its ecotoxicological effect when interacting with other species. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) (AE) were obtained by microwave-assisted hydrodestilation and GC-MS analysis. The MIC and CBM were determined for each AE against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis using the plate microdilution method. The EC50, the Mitotic Index (IE) and the identification of Chromosomal Aberrations (CA) were evaluated, using cabbage (Brassica oleracea), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and onion bulbs (Allium cepa) as bioindicators. Thyme EA, whose majority compound is thymol (21.2%) presented an MIC 500-1000 µg / mL and CBM 1000 µg / mL compared to S. mutans; and for P. gingivalis it showed an MIC of 250 µg / mL and CBM 500 µg / mL. On the other hand, cardamom EA is mainly composed of α-terpenyl acetate (40%). This AE showed an MIC 500-1000 µg / mL and CBM 500 µg / mL versus P. gingivalis. However, there is no evidence of antimicrobial activity for S. mutans. Regarding phytotoxicity, thyme and cardamom EAs have no phytotoxic activity in tomato and cabbage bioindicators (EC50> 1000 µg / mL). However, for onion bulbs, an EC50 415 µg / mL for thyme EA and an EC50 743 µg / mL for cardamom AE were determined; and chromosomal aberrations were identified as sticky chromosomes, tramps, bridges and late anaphase.