Coronatine elicitation alters chemical composition and biological properties of cumin seed essential oil

The present experiment evaluated how coronatine (COR) elicitation affects chemical and biological properties of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seed essential oil (CSEO). Following isolation of the EO, its chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; also, its bioactivities in terms of antimicrobial/anti-fungal, cytotoxic (measured by MIT assay) and antioxidant effects (evaluated by DPPH, beta-carotene bleaching (BCB) and TSARS methods) were evaluated. COR-elicitation significantly increased CSEO yield and the level of its chemical components, especially cumin aldehyde which is the main component of CSEO. Results showed that COR-elicitation significantly reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of CSEO against 4 Gram-positive and 3 Gram-negative bacteria and 2 fungi. Moreover, elicitation markedly enhanced the antioxidant and in vitro cytotoxic activity of CSEO. Therefore, COR may be regarded as a useful biotic elicitor for improving EO chemical and biological properties.