Abstract
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Commonly known as fennel has been used in traditional medicinal plant belonging to Apiaceae. The aim of this study was to examine quality and biological activities of fennel seed and leaf oils. The oil extraction was done in Soxhlet apparatus using hexane as a solvent. The result for physicochemical properties presented significantly higher oil yield (4.39%) and peroxide value (3.90) was observed for seed oil. Significantly higher antioxidant activities with respect to DPPH (24.45±3.74) and hydrogen peroxide (62.70±0.28) free radical scavenging activities for leaf oil. However, ascorbic acid was found to be significantly higher for seed oil (82.44±4.63). The strongest antibacterial activity with maximum zone of inhibition (14.25mm), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, 0.25µl/ml) and corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC, 0.50 µl/ml) was recorded for leaf oil extract against Staphylococcus aureus. On the other hand, the strongest antifungal activity with maximum zone of inhibition (13.50mm), MIC (0.38µl/ml, the least value) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC, 0.75µl/ml) was recorded for leaf oil against Aspergillus Niger. It can be observed from the result in this study that leaf oil extract has demonstrated more effective biological activities including both antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials.
Highlights
Foeniculum vulgare commonly known as fennel and its local name is khamona in Oromo
Physicochemical properties of the oil extracts were done based on determination of oil content, acid value, percent free fatty acid and peroxide values based on the standard procedures described by AOAC (2000)
The quality of Foeniculum vulgare seed and leaf oils was determined based on physicochemical properties including oil content, acid value, free fatty acids and peroxide values (Table 1)
Summary
Foeniculum vulgare commonly known as fennel and its local name is khamona in Oromo. It is a biennial medicinal herb belonging to the family Apiaceae. Herbal drugs and essential oils of fennel have hepatoprotective effects, as well as antispasmodic effects (Reynolds, 1982). They are known for their diuretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities and anticancer activities (Choi and Hwang, 2004; Anand et al, 2008). Fennel has been used in traditional medicine for treatment of various disorders associated with digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory systems (Badgujaret al., 2014). The oil yield (2.5 - 5%) varies according to origin and variety and the highest concentration of fennel oil is found in seeds ranging between 2 7%, fennel volatile oil is a mixture of different chemicals and the main ingredients are: trans- anethole (40 - 70%), fenchone (1 20%) and estragole (2 - 9%), other compounds (α-pinene, chavicole, dipentene, α-limenene etc.) are present in concentration usually less than 1% (Cosge et al, 2008)
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