Analysis of phytochemical constituents of Eucalyptus citriodora L. responsible for antifungal activity against post-harvest fungi

Abstract

In vitro antifungal activity and phytochemical constituents of essential oil, aqueous, methanol and chloroform extract of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook leaves were investigated. A qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed for the detection of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, tannins and phenols. Methanolic extract holds all identified biochemical constituents except for the tannin. While these biochemical constituents were found to be absent in essential oil, aqueous and chloroform extracts with the exception of sterols, cardiac glycosides and phenols in essential oil and sterols and phenols in aqueous and chloroform extracts. Antimycotic activity of four fractions of E. citriodora was investigated through agar-well diffusion method against four post-harvest fungi, namely, Aspergillus flavus Link ex Gray, Aspergillus fumigatus Fres., Aspergillus nidulans Eidam ex Win and Aspergillus terreus Thom. The results revealed maximum fungal growth inhibition by methanolic extract (14.5%) followed by essential oil (12.9%), chloroform extract (10.15%) and aqueous extract (10%).

Mass Spectroscopic Analysis, MNDO Quantum Chemical Studies and Antifungal Activity of Essential and Recovered Oil Constituents of Lemon-Scented Gum against Three Common Molds

“…E. citriodora EO also inhibits the growth of phyto-and post-harvest pathogens [12,13,53], and its antifungal activity is attributed to citronellal, the major volatile constituent of this EO [12]. Significant inhibition of growth of Rhizoctonia solani was observed in Citronella (83.53%), and Lemon-tulsi (70.39%), Eucalyptus (68.63%), Pepper Mint (55.69%), and Patchauli (52.75%) which also effectively reduced the growth of the fungus [54].…”

Antibacterial activity of medicinal plant extracts against <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i> (Smith) that causes bacterial wilt in hot pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.)

“…Extracts of E. citriodora and R. communis found to have alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins and terpenoids (Table 1). Javed, Shoaib, Mohmood, Mushtaq, and Iftikhar (2012) and Suurbaar, Mosobil and Donkor (2017) have found out similar constituents of E. citriodora (except tannins) and R. communis leaf extracts, respectively. Unlike the present study, alkaloids, tannins and terpenoids are absent from the methanol leaf extract of E. citriodora (Pathmanathan, Uthayarasa, Jeyadevan, & Jeyaseelan, 2010).…”

Antifungal Effect of Essential Oils against Fusarium Keratitis Isolates

“…The antifungal effect of different EOs against filamentous fungi was previously reported in the literature [14][15][16][17][18], however, the focus was mainly set on dermatophytes, phytopathogenic, and postharvest pathogenic fungi. For example, the strong antifungal activity of CZEO was described against postharvest pathogens [19], phytopathogenic fusaria [20,21], and human pathogenic aspergilli [17].…”

“…Gömöri et al [20] observed that OMEO and SSEO have significant antifungal effects on phytopathogenic Fusarium isolates. ECEO also inhibits the growth of phyto-and postharvest pathogens [15,16,23], and its antifungal activity is attributed to citronellal, the major volatile constituent of this EO [15]. EO susceptibility data of human pathogenic fungal isolates and especially of fusaria are limited.…”

“…Although the antifungal effects of different EOs have been extensively examined against filamentous fungi [15,16,20], data about EO susceptibilities of human pathogenic fusaria are extremely rare, and data about Fusarium keratitis isolates are completely unavailable in the literature. In our study, the lowest MIC values (31.25-500 µg/mL) were observed in the case of CZEO.…”