The aim of the research was to increase the efficiency of the hydrodistillation process and determine the volatile composition, biological activity, and aroma profile of essential oil from celery seeds (Apium graveolens L.). The essential oil was extracted from the plant material by ultrasonic hydrodistillation with higher efficiency when compared with classical hydrodistillation. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the impedimetric method for the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and yeast Candida vini as well as moulds Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (μL/mL) values: 30, 10, 20, 3, 30, 40, and 40, respectively. The oil possessed very weak 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant activity with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 81.6 g/L. Initial studies of the aroma profile indicated that the perception of the fragrance of the oil could be related to the sex of the panellists. According to women, the fragrance of celery seeds oil was intense herb-like. From the men’s point of view, it had a fresh, mossy, and mushroom scent.

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical profile of monoterpenes (including identification of stereoisomers) contained in celery seed essential oil derived from waste celery seeds (Apium graveolens L.), which did not meet commercial quality criteria as a sowing material, and to evaluate the biological activity and sensory profile of the oil. The main constituent of the oil was (R)-(+)-limonene (75.06%). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was assessed using the impedimetric method to find its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the bacteria (Bacillus subtilis (MIC 50 μL/mL), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 2 μL/mL), Escherichia coli (MIC 20 μL/mL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 30 μL/mL)) as well as the fungi (Candida vini (MIC 50 μL/mL), Aspergillus niger (MIC 50 μL/mL), and Penicillium expansum (MIC 50 μL/mL)). The oil showed high radical scavenging activity for DPPH (IC₅₀ = 89.11 g/l). Fragrance perception depended on the sex of the panellists.