Antifungal activity of peppermint and sweet basil essential oils and their major aroma constituents on some plant pathogenic fungi from the vapor phase

Abstract

The vapors of peppermint oil and two of its major constituents (menthol and menthone), and sweet basil oil and two of its major constituents (linalool and eugenol), were tested against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.), Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb. exFr.) Vuill and Mucor sp. (Fisher) in a closed system. These fungi cause deterioration and heavy decay of peach fruit during marketing, shipping and storage. The essential oils, their major individual aroma constituents and blends of the major individual constituents at different ratios inhibited the growth of the fungi in a dose-dependent manner. Menthol was found to be the individual aroma constituent responsible for the antifungal properties of peppermint essential oil, while menthone alone did not show any effect at all doses. In the case of basil oil, linalool alone showed a moderate antifungal activity while eugenol showed no activity at all. Mixing the two components in a ratio similar to their concentrations in the original oil was found to enhance the antifungal properties of basil oil indicating a synergistic effect.

Elionurus muticus as an Alternative Source of Citral from Pampa biome, Brazil

“…On the other hand, the higher toxicity by fumigant treatment occurs more rapidly because of the direct effect of the essential oil vapors on the fungal mycelia. Some investigators reported that the lipophilic nature of essential oils render them more absorbable by the fungal mycelia than by agar due to the highly lipophilic nature of the fungal mycelia and the high water content of the agar media 32,33 .…”

Control of Postharvest Fungal Rots on Grapes Using Essential Oil of Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

“…The volatile phase of essential oil showed a fungistatic action, partially inhibiting the mycelial growth of fungi. Volatile phase of artemisia, peppermint, basil and thyme essential oils were also reported to posses antimicrobial activity against plant pathogenic fungi (Edris & Farrag, 2003;Soylu et al, 2005). Investigators suggested that the antifungal activity resulted from a direct effect of essential oil vapours on fungal mycelium and postulated that the lipophilic nature of essential oils would make possible for them being absorbed by fungal mycelia (Edris & Farrag, 2003;Inouye et al, 2000).…”

Lamiaceae Peppermint Oil with Surfactant Showing Equal Antifungal Activity against <i>Candida albicans</i> to Rosemary Chemotype CINEOL

“…It is suggested that the essential oils, with or without surfactants, have fungicidal activities. Menthone and menthol are known as main components of peppermint [14] [15]. These two components are reported to act against C. albicans based on a study on their MICs and MFCs using broth microdilution method [16].…”