The essential oil of wild Daucus carota L. obtained from aerial parts at the end of the flowering stage (DCEO) was reported as antimicrobial against the human enteropathogen Campylobacter jejuni. The aim of the present study was to extend this analysis to other Campylobacter species and to identify the active compounds of the essential oil, subjected to GC, GC-MS, and (13)C NMR analysis. A minimum inhibitory concentration assay was used to quantify the antimicrobial activity of DCEO and the major components, isolated on column chromatography. Growth of all the C. jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter lari strains tested, including one multidrug resistant C. jejuni, was inhibited to the same extent by DCEO. Molecules that were responsible for the antibacterial activity were identified as (E)-methylisoeugenol and elemicin. Moreover, the use of structural analogues of these compounds allowed us to identify important features that may account for the activity.

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The chemical composition of Otanthus maritimus L. essential oils obtained from aerial parts, roots and whole plants from Corsica was investigated by capillary GC and GC-MS analysis. A collective oil and some of its main components were tested for antibacterial activity against microorganisms involved in nosocomial infection and food-borne illnesses. With the exception of camphor (7.0-20.4%), the main constituents were irregular monoterpenes: yomogi alcohol (24.4-34.7%), artemisia alcohol (11.5-19.2%) and artemisyl acetate (4.9-12.6%). The antibacterial activity of O. maritimus oil and the antibacterial potential of both artemisia and yomogi alcohols against Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter jejuni are reported for the first time.