Abstract
The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of γ-irradiation at two irradiation doses of 10 and 25 kGy, on the antibacterial activities of cumin essential oils (E.Os) in vitro and in vivo systems. For this purpose, the cumin seeds were irradiated with Co60 source (0, 10 and 25 kGy) and subjected to Clevenger extraction to obtain E.Os. In vitro antibacterial activities of cumin E.Os was determined on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains including E. coli, P. aeroginosa, B. cereus and S. aureus using agar well diffusion method, disk diffusion method and, MIC and MBC determinations. In vivo antibacterial activity was performed on polymicrobial infection induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in rat through blood colony forming units (CFUs) determination. The results showed that CLP operation caused a marked increase in bacterial load of blood which was reduced in rats treated with fresh and irradiated cumin oils. In vitro results also showed the sensitivity of all tested bacterial strains against the fresh and irradiated cumin E.Os. These data may suggest that cumin E.O has potential antibacterial activity both in vivo and in vitro systems. Also, γ-irradiation to cumin seeds at 10 and 25 kGy has no significant effects on the antibacterial properties of cumin E.Os.