# Compositions, Antimicrobial, and Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oil Extracted From Garden Cress Seeds Growing in Three Districts of South Wollo, Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This study examines essential oils from garden cress seeds in Ethiopia, finding they have strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

## Contribution

The study reveals district-specific variations in essential oil composition and bioactivity of Lepidium sativum seeds.

## Key findings

- Essential oils from Tenta district showed the highest yield and strongest antimicrobial activity.
- The oils exhibited robust antioxidant potential, with Tenta oil having an IC50 of 11.31 ± 0.01 μg/mL.
- Environmental factors like soil and climate significantly influence the chemical composition and bioactivity of the oils.

## Abstract

This study explores the chemical composition, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties of essential oils derived from
Lepidium sativum
seeds, collected from Legambo, Jama, and Tenta districts. Notably, the oils were predominantly composed of benzyl nitrile, alongside sulfur‐containing compounds like trisulfide bis(phenylmethyl) and disulfide bis(phenylmethyl). The essential oil yield varied between 2.3% and 3.8%, with the Tenta sample yielding the highest amount. The oils demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 27.2 to 36.8 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 1.26–3.00 mg/mL for bacterial strains and 2.01–2.62 mg/mL for fungal strains. Remarkably, the strongest antimicrobial effect was against
Staphylococcus aureus
(MIC = 1.26 mg/mL) and
Candida albicans
(MIC = 2.01 mg/mL). Additionally, the essential oils exhibited robust antioxidant potential, with the oil from the Tenta district showing the highest activity, as indicated by an IC50 value of 11.31 ± 0.01 μg/mL in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Significant variations in essential oil composition and bioactivity were observed across districts, suggesting that environmental factors such as soil type, climate, and altitude play critical roles in shaping these differences. This study not only highlights the therapeutic potential of
L. sativum
essential oils in antimicrobial and antioxidant applications but also underscores the importance of investigating district‐specific variations and the commercial viability of these bioactive components. The findings provide a novel contribution to the understanding of
L. sativum
's bioactive properties and their implications for health and industry.

This study analyzes the chemical composition and evaluates the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oils extracted from Lepidium sativum (garden cress) seeds collected from three districts in South Wollo, Ethiopia. The oils were rich in benzyl nitrile and sulfur‐containing compounds, demonstrating significant bioactive potential. The findings suggest the essential oils possess promising natural antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.