Antimicrobial Activity of Pimpinella anisum and Foeniculum vulgare Essential Oils Against Paenibacillus larvae

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the fruits of Pimpinella anisum L. (green anise) and Foeniculum vulgare Miller (fennel) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS and physicochemical properties. The oils of P. anisum and E. vulgare were found to he especially rich in (E)-anethole, 96.3% and 92.7%, respectively The MICs were determined by the tube dilution method against Paenibacillus larvae. The oils showed MICs values were 300 mu g/mI, and 250 mu g/mL for P.anisum and F. vulgare, respectively. Both oils presented great similarity in physiochemical properties values and antimicrobial activity.