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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Impact of seed provenance on bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) cultivated in the arid region of Tafilalet, Morocco

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13843
Submitted
26 January 2026
Published
27-07-2026 — Updated on 29-09-2026
Versions

Abstract

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is an important aromatic and medicinal plant whose bioactive composition and functional properties are influenced by both environmental conditions and genetic factors. This study evaluated 14 cumin accessions cultivated in Morocco, representing seed material originally sourced from six countries (Morocco, India, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey) to assess variation in their phytochemical profiles. Total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity were assessed using the ISO 14502-1 method for TPC, the aluminium chloride colourimetric method for TFC and DPPH/ABTS radical scavenging assays for antioxidant activity. Significant differences were observed among accessions. The Turkish accessions C34 recorded the highest levels of TPC (up to 0.021 mg GAE/mg DW) and TFC (up to 0.013 mg REE/mg DW), while Syrian accessions C31 and C29 and the Moroccan accession C25 also exhibited strong phenolic profiles. In terms of antioxidant activity, accessions C34 and C31 similarly demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in both DPPH and ABTS assays. Overall, the results demonstrate that both geographic origin and genotype influence cumins’ bioactive properties and highlight promising accessions for future use in industrial, nutraceutical and medicinal applications, especially under arid and semi-arid growing conditions. The results provide valuable insights for the conservation and selection of high-value cumin ecotypes, promoting climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural development in arid regions of Morocco.

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