Phytother Res. 2003 Apr; 17(4): 368-71.

Essential oil composition and antifungal activity of Foeniculum vulgare Mill obtained by different distillation conditions.

Mimica-DukiÄ N, KujundziÄ S, SokoviÄ M, Couladis M.

Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. [email protected]

The influence of different hydrodistillation conditions was evaluated from the standpoint of essential oil yield, chemical composition and antifungal activity from seeds of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Three hydrodistillation conditions were considered. The main constituents of the oils were: (E)-anethole (72.27%-74.18%), fenchone (11.32%-16.35%) and methyl chavicol (3.78%-5.29%). The method of distillation significantly effected the essential oil yield and quantitative composition, although the antifungal activity of the oils against some fungi was only slightly altered.Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.