Antifungal activity of essential oils of Croton species from the Brazilian Caatinga biome.
J Appl Microbiol
; 104(5): 1383-90, 2008 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18298533
ABSTRACT
AIMS:
To find new antifungal agents among essential oils from Brazilian Croton species. METHODS ANDRESULTS:
Plant leaves were steam distilled and the obtained essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. The main constituents were estragole and anethole for Croton zehntneri, methyl-eugenol and bicyclogermacrene for Croton nepetaefolius and spathulenol and bicyclogermacrene for Croton argyrophylloides. The antifungal activity of essential oils was evaluated against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Microsporum canis by the agar-well diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the broth microdilution method. Essential oils of Croton species demonstrated better activity against M. canis. Among the three plants C. argyrophylloides showed the best results, with MIC ranging from 9 to 19 microg ml(-1). The acute administration of the essential oil up to 3 g kg(-1) by the oral route to mice was devoid of overt toxicity.CONCLUSIONS:
The studied essential oils are active in vitro against the dermatophyte M. canis and present relative lack of acute toxicity in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Because of its antifungal activity and low toxicity, the essential oils of studied Croton species are promising sources for new phytotherapeutic agents to treat dermatophytosis.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Oils, Volatile
/
Croton
/
Antifungal Agents
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Language:
En
Journal:
J Appl Microbiol
Journal subject:
MICROBIOLOGIA
Year:
2008
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: