Antifungal and Antiaflatoxinogenic Effects of Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon nardus, and Cymbopogon schoenanthus Essential Oils Alone and in Combination

Abstract

The antifungal and antiaflatoxinogenic activities of the essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of Cymbopogon schoenanthus, Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon nardus, and their pair combinations were investigated. Antifungal susceptibility and the efficacy of paired combinations of EOs were assessed using agar microdilution and checkerboard methods, respectively. Identification and quantification of chemical components of the EOs were carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-MS and GC-FID), respectively. Aflatoxins were separated and identified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and then quantified by spectrofluorescence. The EO of C. nardus exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. The combination of C. citratus and C. nardus and that of C. nardus and C. schoenanthus exhibited a synergistic effect against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus, respectively. Both C. citratus and C. schoenanthus EOs totally inhibited the synthesis of aflatoxin B1 at 1 µL/mL. C. citratus blocked the production of aflatoxins B2 and G2 at 0.5 µL/mL. Both C. citratus and C. schoenanthus totally hampered the production of the aflatoxin G1 at 0.75 µL/mL. The combination of C. citratus and C. schoenanthus completely inhibited the production of the four aflatoxins. The study shows that the combinations can be used to improve their antifungal and antiaflatoxinogenic activities.

The Antifungal Activity of Cinnamon-Litsea Combined Essential Oil against Dominant Fungal Strains of Moldy Peanut Kernels

“…niger on plum fruit. Sawadogo et al [ 36 ] reported that Cymbopogon nardus (L.) EO exhibited high antifungal activity against A . flavus and A .…”

Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil: Extraction, GC–MS, Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant Activity, and In Silico Molecular Docking for Protein Targets Related to CNS

“…C. citratus , or lemongrass, exhibits a wide range of biologic activities due to its diverse bioactive compounds. The plant’s antimicrobial properties encompass both antibacterial and antifungal actions, with efficacy against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains [ 4 ] and fungi such as Aspergillus spp., Mucor indicus [ 5 ], Botrytis cinerea [ 6 ], and Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus [ 7 ]. Lemongrass demonstrates anti-aspergillosis potential by inhibiting enzymes essential for fungal cell wall synthesis [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…The plant’s antimicrobial properties encompass both antibacterial and antifungal actions, with efficacy against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains [ 4 ] and fungi such as Aspergillus spp., Mucor indicus [ 5 ], Botrytis cinerea [ 6 ], and Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus [ 7 ]. Lemongrass demonstrates anti-aspergillosis potential by inhibiting enzymes essential for fungal cell wall synthesis [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Lemongrass also shows promise in the realm of human health, with hepatoprotective effects against hepatocellular injury in diabetic rats [ 9 ], cholesterol-lowering potential by preventing gut absorption [ 10 ], and the ability to overcome doxorubicin resistance in cancer cells [ 11 ].…”

In silico Evaluation of the Inhibitory Potential of Cymbopogonol from Cymbopogon citratus Towards Falcipain-2 (FP2) Cysteine Protease of Plasmodium falciparum

“…16,17,18 In vivo studies have shown antimalarial activity of Cymbopogon citratus in mice. 16,19 Also, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis has revealed the presence of cymbopogonol in lemongrass. 20 In this study, the activity of the phytochemicals present in lemongrass was explored against FP2, and cymbopogonol was found to have the best inhibitory potential towards the target.…”