Antifungal and Cytotoxic Activities of Sixty Commercially-Available Essential Oils

Abstract

There is an urgent and unmet need for new antifungal therapies. Global fungal infection rates continue to rise and fungal infections pose increasing burdens on global healthcare systems. Exacerbating the situation, the available antifungal therapeutic arsenal is limited and development of new antifungals has been slow. Current antifungals are known for unwanted side effects including nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Thus, the need for new antifungals and new antifungal targets is urgent and growing. A collection of 60 commercially-available essential oils has been screened for antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans, as well as for cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast tumor cell lines; the chemical compositions of the essential oils have been determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ten essential oils showed remarkable antifungal and cytotoxic activities: Indian, Australian, and Hawaiian sandalwoods; melissa; lemongrass; cilantro; cassia; cinnamon; patchouli; and vetiver.

Essential Oil Compositions and Antifungal Activity of Sunflower (Helianthus) Species Growing in North Alabama

“…Furthermore, α-pinene has shown antifungal activity against C. neoformans with an MIC around 70 µg/mL [38,39]. In addition, α-pinene-rich (46.1% α-pinene) commercial Myrtis communis essential oil showed a similar antifungal activity against C. neoformans (MIC = 78 µg/mL) [26]. Conversely, commercial Cupressus sempervirens essential oil, with 49.7% α-pinene was less active against C. neoformans (MIC = 313 µg/mL) [26].…”

“…In addition, α-pinene-rich (46.1% α-pinene) commercial Myrtis communis essential oil showed a similar antifungal activity against C. neoformans (MIC = 78 µg/mL) [26]. Conversely, commercial Cupressus sempervirens essential oil, with 49.7% α-pinene was less active against C. neoformans (MIC = 313 µg/mL) [26]. There may be synergistic or antagonistic effects of α-pinene with minor components.…”

“…The Helianthus essential oils were screened for antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger (ATCC 16888), Candida albicans (ATCC 18804), and Cryptococcus neoformans (ATCC 24607) using the broth dilution technique as previously described [26,34]. Antifungal screening was carried out in triplicate.…”

“…However, the organism has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier and in immunocompromised patients, cryptococcosis can lead to cryptococcal meningoencephalitis with increased intracranial pressure [24,25]. As part of our continuing investigation of antifungal activity of essential oils [26] as well as essential oils from the Asteraceae growing in north Alabama [27], we have collected and analyzed the essential oils from the aerial parts of H. annuus and H. strumosus, and we have carried out in vitro antifungal screening of the essential oils against A. niger, C. albicans, and C. neoformans.…”

Antifungal Potential of Aqueous Extract of Boswellia carteri

“…The plants of Boswellia species are a rich source of natural resins and several bioactive compounds [7][8][9] . Moreover, essential oils extracted from B. carteri have been reported to exhibit antifungal activity against Candida species 10 , Stachybotrys chartarum, 11 Trichotecium roseum 11 , and toxigenic Aspergillus species [11][12][13][14] . Alternaria alternata (A. alternata) is an opportunistic fungus that causes leaf spots and blights of many economically important plants 15 .…”