This study aim to knowledge the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) extracted by hydro steam distillation of anise (Pimpinella Anisum L.) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds which analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Whereas, the main components of anise essential oil (AEO) were Transe Anethole (91.75%), γ-Himachalene (2.28%) and Carvone (1.71%). The main constituents of fennel essential oil (FEO) were Estragole (74.46%), D-limonene (10.06%), Transe Anethole (10.38%) and Fenchone (3.04%). The antimicrobial activities of AEO and FEO (inhibition zone in mm) were evaluated, the results indicated that, AEO and FEO showed inhibition zones (in mm) against Bacillus cereus (8 and 8 mm), Bacillus subtilis (10 and 10 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (13 and 13 mm), Escherichia coli (12 and 8 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8 and 9 mm) and Salmonella typhimurium (10 and 9 mm), Aspergillus flavus (24 and 18 mm), Aspergillus niger (13 and 17 mm), Cladosporium sphaerospermm (14 and 14 mm), Mucor racemosus (18 and 15 mm), Penicillium chrysogenum (22 and 33 mm) and Rhizopus arrhizus (26 and 24 mm), Candida albicans (18 and 28 mm), Debaryomyces hansenii (12 and 10 mm) and Pichia membranifaciens (26 and 12 mm) for AEO and FEO; respectively. Chloramphenicol was used as positive control for the antibacterial activity; on the other hand, clotrimazole positive control for the antifungal activity and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) (without EOs addition) was used as a negative control.

A two-year field study was conducted to study the possibility of partially replacing the nitrogenous fertilizer with the inoculum in a sandy land without affecting the growth, yield, and quality characteristics of sweet potato-sweet corn intercropping systems. The first factor was nitrogen fertilizer: Azospirillum brasilense (Ab, T1), 100 kg N ha ^− 1 (half-dose of nitrogen, T2), 200 kg N ha ^− 1 (full dose of nitrogen, T3), Ab + 100 kg N ha ^− 1 (T4), Ab + 200 kg ha ^− 1 (T5). The second factor was the intercropping systems (IS): (1) 100%IS =sole sweet corn or sole sweet potato, (2) 75%IS = 3 rows of sweet corn + one row of sweet potato, (3) 50%IS = two rows of each crop, (4) 25%IS = one row of sweet corn + 3 rows of sweet potato. The interaction showed that all intercropping systems within T5 surpassed other treatment combinations in all the studied traits, but it was comparable to the intercropping systems within T4. The lowest results were observed in all traits within the bacteria treatment (T1). The highest significant fat percentage and total solids were found in T5 + IS in sweet potato. Land equivalent ratio was greater than one in all treatment combinations, but the highest values were observed in T5 + 50%IS and T1 + 50%IS. As inoculating intercropped plants with Azospirillum spp. with either full- or half-dose of nitrogenous fertilizer under sandy land conditions had comparable growth and yield for both crops, we conclude that integrating intercropping (50%IS) with microbial inoculation and a reduced (half) nitrogen fertilizer dose can effectively lessen the reliance on synthetic nitrogen inputs. The best return was achieved by intercropping sweet potato with sweet corn at a ratio of 50% for each, combined with Azospirillum spp. + 200 N ha ^− 1 .

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of adding the essential oils (EOs) extracted from marjoram, peppermint, anise and fennel compared with synthetic antioxidants BHT, BHA to sunflower oil (SFO) on the oxidative stability during heat treatments (180±5°C for 18 h). Results showed that the aromatic plants contained of phenolic Substances (26.52 - 45.26 mg) can be used as natural antioxidants. Using of antioxidants (EOs and BHT, BHA) with SFO increased their oxidative stability compared with untreated SFO samples (control). Data demonstrated that the values of acid, peroxide, thiobarbituric acid (TBA value), conjugated diene and triene increased to the highest rates in SFO control (without antioxidant) compared to SFO + antioxidant, while the iodine value was significantly decreased in SFO control compared with SFO + antioxidant during heating. The data also showed that the thermal stability (Rancimat value) of SFO was enhanced by adding EOs. Generally the adding of EOs as natural antioxidants can definitely create a significant impact in the market as there is no adverse health effect on the usage of EOs as a natural compounds compare with synthetic antioxidant in food.