Antifungal activity of volatile constituents of Eugenia dysenterica leaf oil

Abstract

The essential oil from the hydrodistillation of Eugenia dysenterica leaves consisted mainly of β-caryophyllene and α-humulene as the major sesquiterpene, while limonene and α-thujene were the major monoterpene hydrocarbons. The main oxygenated mono and sesquiterpene constituents were α-terpineol and β-caryophyllene oxide, respectively. The oil was investigated against eight strains of Candida albicans, 35 strains of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans, and two C. neoformans var. gattii isolated from HIV-infected individuals with candidosis or cryptococcal meningitis using the agar dilution method. Based on the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values, the most significant results were obtained against Cryptococcus strains. It was observed that 22 strains were inhibited at a concentration of 250 μg/ml, whereas four exhibited potent inhibition with MIC values below 125 μg/ml against 106 UFC/ml organisms. We found MICs≥3.12 μg/ml for 91.6, 50 and 30% of all Cryptococcus strains in relation of amphotericin B, fluconazole and itraconazole, respectively.