Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Citrus aurantium, and Citrus sinensis Essential Oils as Antifungal Activity against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, and Fusarium culmorum

Abstract

Several molds are able to colonize wood and many building products or solid wood causing losses for their valuable uses. Essential oils (EOs) from aromatic plants can be used as an ecofriendly biofungicide against the growth of several molds. EOs from Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Citrus aurantium, and C. sinensis have a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. EOs from of E. camaldulensis air-dried aerial parts, C. aurantium leaf and C. sinensis peel, and their combinations (1:1 v/v) were evaluated for their antifungal activity against the growth of four common mold fungi (Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. terreus, and Fusarium culmorum). The chemical compositions of the EOs were analyzed with GC/MS. The main compounds in EO from E. camaldulensis were spathulenol (20.84%), eucalyptol (12.01%), and sabinene (9.73%); in C. aurantium were linalyl acetate (42.29%), and linalool (29.76%); and in C. sinensis were D-limonene (73.4%) and γ-terpinene (22.6%). At 50 µL/mL, C. sinensis EO showed the highest fungal mycilial growth inhibition (FMGI) percentage (86.66%) against A. flavus. C. sinensis, E. camaldulensis, and E. camaldulensis/C. sinensis showed FMGI values of 96%, 91.66%, and 75.66% respectively, against A. niger. EOs from C. aurantium and C. sinensis showed potent activity against A. terreus (100% FMGI), while C. aurantium/E. camaldulensis and E. camaldulensis/C. sinensis showed FMGI values of 74.33% and 70.66%, respectively. Potent activity against F. culmorum with 100% was observed as the application of E. camaldulensis and C. sinensis EOs at 50 µL/mL, while E. camaldulensis/C. sinensis (50 µL/mL) showed FMGI value of 65.66%. The results suggest using the EOs and their combinations from E.camaldulensis, C. aurantium, and C. sinensis as a biofungicide against molds. The potent properties of EOs offer the possibility of using them as eco-friendly, safe, and cost-effective antimicrobials for molds that could cause discoloration of the wood packaging or food spoilage.

Post-Harvest Enhancing and Botrytis cinerea Control of Strawberry Fruits Using Low Cost and Eco-Friendly Natural Oils

“…Recently, some EOs have been reported to be effective in reducing decay, in quality maintenance and in the essential improvement of post-harvest life of many fruits (grape, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry and fresh-cut fruit) [17]. In particular, aldehydes, phenols and ketones considerably inhibit pathogen growth [18][19][20][21][22]. Thymol, carvacrol and p-anisaldehyde have proven fungicidal activity and the EO rich in these components showed the highest inhibitory activity against many post-harvest pathogens, such as Botrytis spp.…”

Alternative Control of Phragmidium rubi-idaei Infecting Two Rubus Species

“…were found to be less susceptible to cinnamon [ 5 ]. By contrast, cinnamon methanol extract can significantly inhibit A. niger growth and also the growth in Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium moniliforme [ 15 , 19 ]. Thus, the form in which a natural compound is stabilized as a fungistatic product is important and can generate different outcomes for the inhibitory growth of the same mycelia [ 37 , 38 ].…”

“…Among the most popular products with antifungal effects are the ones that hold in their composition Chitosan, a polymer extracted from the shells of marine Crustaceans, and which has already proven its efficiency in several laboratory trials [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Moreover, products that contain natural extracts from the bark of the Mimosa tree, cinnamon or citrus-based have recognized antimicrobial effects [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Zeolite, a volcanic tuff whose soil improvement capacities were made known in an extensive study led by Mumpton [ 25 ], has other positive agricultural effects subsequently attested, being involved in intensification of soil microbiology and the implicit increase of soil fertility [ 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

Antifungal potential of three natural oils and their effects on the thermogravimetric and chromatic behaviors when applied to historical paper and various commercial paper sheets

“…Citrus aurantifolia leaf essential oil showed an inhibition value against A. parasiticus (47.8%) and therefore was considered to possess the ability to suppress this fungus (Rammanee and Hongpattarakere 2011). According to a study by Abo Elgat et al (2020b), Citrus sinensis peel essential oil showed potential antifungal activity against A. flavus with a GI of 86.66% when applied at a concentration of 50 µL/mL. Dongmo et al (2009) observed that C. aurantifolia essential oil had a fungicidal inhibiting action on the radial growth of Phaeoramularia angolensis.…”

“…The peel oils of many species of Citrus showed the presence of limonene as the primary compound (Moufida and Marzouk 2003;Golmohammadi et al 2018;Okla et al 2019b;Abo Elgat et al 2020b), which provides strong antifungal activity against A. flavus (Velázquez- Nuñez et al 2013). The essential oil from C. aurantifolia showed strong inhibitory effects towards Aspergillus parasiticus and aflatoxins production (Rammanee and Hongpattarakere 2011).…”