Liquid and vapour-phase antifungal activities of selected essential oils against candida albicans: microscopic observations and chemical characterization of cymbopogon citratus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Use of essential oils for controlling <it>Candida albicans </it>growth has gained significance due to the resistance acquired by pathogens towards a number of widely-used drugs. The aim of this study was to test the antifungal activity of selected essential oils against <it>Candida albicans </it>in liquid and vapour phase and to determine the chemical composition and mechanism of action of most potent essential oil.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) of different essential oils in liquid phase, assayed through agar plate dilution, broth dilution & 96-well micro plate dilution method and vapour phase activity evaluated through disc volatilization method. Reduction of <it>C. albicans </it>cells with vapour exposure was estimated by kill time assay. Morphological alteration in treated/untreated <it>C. albicans </it>cells was observed by the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and chemical analysis of the strongest antifungal agent/essential oil has been done by GC, GC-MS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Lemon grass (<it>Cymbopogon citratus</it>) essential oil exhibited the strongest antifungal effect followed by mentha (<it>Mentha piperita</it>) and eucalyptus (<it>Eucalyptus globulus</it>) essential oil. The MIC of lemon grass essential oil in liquid phase (288 mg/l) was significantly higher than that in the vapour phase (32.7 mg/l) and a 4 h exposure was sufficient to cause 100% loss in viability of <it>C. albicans </it>cells. SEM/AFM of <it>C. albicans </it>cells treated with lemon grass essential oil at MIC level in liquid and vapour phase showed prominent shrinkage and partial degradation, respectively, confirming higher efficacy of vapour phase. GC-MS analysis revealed that lemon grass essential oil was dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes (78.2%); α-citral or geranial (36.2%) and β-citral or neral (26.5%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (7.9%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (3.8%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Lemon grass essential oil is highly effective in vapour phase against <it>C. albicans</it>, leading to deleterious morphological changes in cellular structures and cell surface alterations.</p

Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of three Satureja species growing in Tanzania

Hydro-distilled volatile oils from the aerial parts of three Satureja species were investigated, mainly by a combination of GC and GC/MS. One hundred and thirteen compounds were identified, representing 82.9-92.0% of the total oil. Among the identified components, spathulenol, cis-piperitone oxide, α-bisabolol oxide-B, terpinen-4-ol, linalool, bornyl acetate, β-bourbonene, isomenthone, thymol, neoisomenthol and menthone were found as the main components. Furthermore, the essential oils were investigated for their antimicrobial activity, by the agar dilution technique. The antimicrobial test results showed that the oils had a high antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria, two oral pathogens and three pathogenic fungi. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to the investigated oils than were Gram-negative bacteria. These results could support the suggestion of Satureja species as a source of antimicrobial ingredients for the food industry. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of geniosporum rotundifolium briq and haumaniastrum villosum (Bene) AJ Paton (Lamiaceae) essential oils from Tanzania

Purpose: To determine the chemical composition and antimicrobial potential of essential oils from two aromatic plants of Tanzania, Geniosporum rotundifolium Briq. and Haumaniastrum villosum (Benè) A.J. Paton (Lamiaceae). Method: Essential oils from the aerial parts of the plants were extracted by hydro-distillation for 3 h using a Clevenger type of apparatus. The constituents were analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC/MS).The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the essential oils were determined for eight bacterial strains and three pathogenic fungi using agar dilution method. Results: The constituents of G. rotundifolium oil were mainly oxygenated derivatives of mono- and sesquiterpenes; spathulenol (12.46 %), α-terpineol (4.65 %) and germacrene-D (3.71 %) were the most abundant. Those of H. villosum oil were predominantly sesquiterpenes (72.61 %) with caryophyllene oxide (19.01 %), humulene epoxide II (11.95 %), β-bourbonene (5.7 %), α-humulene (5.63 %) and β- caryophyllene (5.39 %) being more abundant. The oil of G. rotundifolium exhibited weak to moderate activity against the bacterial species but showed no activity against the test fungi. However, H. villosum oil showed very promising activity against all the test microorganisms (MIC 0.08 – 10.34 mg/mL). Conclusion: The major components of G. rotundifolium essential oil were oxygenated derivatives of mono- and sesquiterpenes whereas those of H. villosum were sesquiterpenes. All tested microorganisms were susceptible to H. villosum oil. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved

Chemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from the aromatic plants artemisia afra jacq. And leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. F.) iwarsson var. Raineriana (vision1) iwarsson growing in Tanzania

Hydrodistilled volatile oils from the aerial parts of Artemisia afra and leaves of Leonotis ocymifolia var. raineriana were investigated, by a combination of GC and GC/MS. From A. afra 37 compounds were identified, representing 95.3% (area percent) of the total oil and from L. ocymifolia var. raineriana, 27 compounds were identified, representing 91.1% of the total oil. Among the identified components camphor (46.2%), α-thujone (15.2%), artemisia ketone (7.4%) and 1,8-cineole (4.2%) were found as the main components of A. afra oil and germacrene D (36.8%), (Z)-β-ocimene (7.9%), β-caryophyllene (7.0%) and (E)-β-ocimene (4.4%) were the major components of L. ocymifolia oil. Furthermore, the oils, as well as nine of their constituents, were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity, against six bacteria, two oral pathogens and three pathogenic fungi. The results showed that the oil of A. afra has a moderate antimicrobial activity, while the oil of L. ocymifolia exhibited a stronger one against Gram-negative bacteria and oral pathogens, and a weaker one against Gram-positive bacteria. This interesting profle can be attributed to the high content of the oil, of germacrene D which is known for its antimicrobial activity. © 2007, Taylor &amp; Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved

Chemical analysis of edible aromatic plants growing in Tanzania

The volatiles from the aerial parts of edible plants growing in Tanzania, Leucas glabrata, Plectranthus laxiflorus, Salvia nilotica and Vernonia smithiana, were investigated by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-five compounds were identified from L. glabrata, representing 80.4% of the total oil; forty-three from P. laxiflorus (86.7%); twenty-four from S. nilotica (94.3%); and thirty-nine compounds from V. smithiana (92.9%). Among the identified components, menthone, (p + o)-cymene, trans-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide were found as the main ones. Furthermore, the essential oils were investigated for their antimicrobial activity as well as for their antiradical activity, through the DPPH method. Upon antimicrobial assays, the oil of V. smithiana showed very strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, oral pathogens and pathogenic fungi; the oil of P. laxiflorus also exhibited strong activity, mostly against Gram-positive bacteria and especially oral pathogens, while L. glabrata showed strong activity against all assayed bacteria. The essential oil of S. nilotica appeared to have the most antioxidant activity but was almost inactive against all tested microorganisms. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved