Effect of Cold Plasma on Essential Oil Content and Composition of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)

The current research was carried out to reveal the possible impacts of cold plasma on essential oil (EO) content and composition of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), as a new approach in medicinal plants processing. Cumin seeds were exposed to plasma at different voltages (۱۷, ۱۹, ۲۱, and ۲۳ kV). The EO content was determined using hydro-distillation, and the compositions of the extracted EOs were quantified using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. The results showed that with increasing voltage intensity from ۱۷ to ۲۳ (kV), the hydrophilicity of cumin seeds and EO content (extraction efficiency) increased. Also, %۲۵ color change was observed between the control and the treated samples. Major constituents of EO included β-pinene (%۵.۵-۱۲.۲), p-cymene (%۸-۱۱.۲), (E)-beta-ocimene (%۱۵.۷), cumin aldehyde (%۲۳.۹-۴۷.۶), γ-terpinene (%۲۵.۳-۳۷.۵). The EO analysis results showed that cumin aldehyde was reduced by %۲۰ compared to the control sample.