A new source of oxygenated monoterpenes with phytotoxic activity: essential oil of Cuminum Cyminum L. from Iran

Abstract

Chemical constitutes and phytotoxic activity of Cuminum cymiunm L. is investigated in the present study. For this means seeds of C. cyminum L. was harvested from Ilkhchi of Iran. The major components of essential oil (EO) with more than 94% were 3-caren-10-al, cuminal, 2-Caren-10-al, γ-Terpinene, (-)-β-Pinene and p-Cymene. This study found that cumin EO displayed meaningful inhibitory impacts on germination indices and the growth of the seedlings of Amaranthus retroflexus, Lactuca sativa, and Acroptilon repens. The germination indices showed severely concentration-dependent responses. In the case of A. retroflexus and L. sativa germination indices were controlled in the 500 ppm and in the A. repens were inhibited in the 1500 ppm of EO concentration. Overall, this study suggests that EO derived from C. cyminum L. looks to be a promising candidate for its utilization as a natural herbicide in large scale.

Keywords:

• Cumin
• 3-Caren-10-al
• allelopathic
• cuminal
• phytotoxic activity

Acknowledgment

We are very grateful to the Departments of Horticulture of Urmia University for their support.