Evaluation of the Antibacterial Potential of Essential Oil and Extract of Apium graveolens L. as an Environmentally Friendly Technology Against Helicobacter pylori

The hygiene hypothesis links the environmental and microbial exposure in early life to the prevalence of atopy, allergy, and asthma. Helicobacter pylori infection is typically acquired in childhood and the acquisition is associated with poor household hygiene. In this study, the current knowledge on the activity of essential oils and extract of Apium graveolens L. (celery seeds) and their derivatives against H. pylori was reviewed. Celery seeds were prepared at the Pharmaceutical Farm (Babol, Mazandaran) of Iran. The essential oils were extracted by a Clevenger approach and analyzed using GC-MS, and maceration method was used to prepare the extract. H. pylori bacteria were isolated by the cultivation of gastric biopsy removed from the patient who had gastric ulcer. The antibacterial activities of both essential oils and extract against H. pylori were evaluated by agar dilution method, and the corresponding MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) values were determined for each sample. The results showed that the main components in celery seed essential oils were α-pinene (20.25%), β-pinene (16.62%), and Sabinene (7.81%). Among different samples, essential oils of celery seed exhibited better effect on H. pylori with MIC value of 1.56 mg/mL and MBC value of 3.12 mg/mL. Methanol and water extracts of celery seed showed MIC values of 0.38 mg/mL and 0.78 mg/mL and MBC values of 1.56 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL, respectively (P≤0.005). The results of this study indicated that all the samples had antibacterial effect against H. pylori due to antibacterial components.