Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Tanacetum persicum

Background: Tanacetum persicum (Boiss.) Mozaff is a plant with a long history in Iranian traditional medicine as an antiseptic medicinal plant. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of T. persicum essential oil and analyze its chemical composition. Methods: In this study, the chemical composition of the aerial part essential oil of T. persicum was analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy apparatuses. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica by disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution assays. Results: The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was compared with ascorbic acid against ABTS free radicals. Borneol (33.5%), bornyl acetate (12.8%), and linalool (9.1%) were the main components of the essential oil of T. persicum. S. aureus, which has a high inhibition zone diameter (mm) and low minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration values, showed the most sensitivity to essential oil, followed by S. enterica and H. pylori. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was the same as that of ascorbic acid (IC50 = 20 ppm). Conclusions: The essential oil of T. persicum is a good source of borneol and a valuable antioxidant and antimicrobial agent.