Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antifungal Activities of Essential Oils from Himalayan Plants

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Natural Antimicrobial Agents

Part of the book series: Sustainable Development and Biodiversity ((SDEB,volume 19))

  • 1708 Accesses

Abstract

Himalayan temperate and subalpine flora with its diverse medicinal and aromatic species occupies an important position in the field of herbal pharmaceuticals. The spread of multidrug-resistant strains of fungi and relatively small number of antifungal drugs available made it necessary to look for new sources of antifungal molecules. This has led to the search for therapeutic alternatives, particularly among medicinal and aromatic plants and compounds isolated from them for their antifungal potential. Essential oils are naturally occurring phytochemicals with generally less deleterious side effects than corresponding synthetic drugs. Also, the resurgence of interest in natural control of human infectious fungal pathogens and increasing demand for effective, safe natural extracts and their constituents could lead to new antifungal agents. This could support the use of the plants in the treatment of various infective human diseases and protection of plant crops. This chapter gives an overview on the susceptibility of human and phytopathogenic fungi toward different essential oils and their chemical constituents, largely belonging to the tropical and subalpine Indian Himalayan region, viz. Nepeta, Erigeron, Aster, Cinnamomum, Thymus, Mentha, Senecio and their constituents such as new terpene iridoids, actinidine, nepetalactone, acetylenic esters, thymol, carvacrol and eugenol. Several of these have been found to possess high antifungal properties against various fungi.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

DMSO:

Dimethylsulfoxide

EOs:

Essential oils

GC-FT IR:

Gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared

GC-MS:

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

g:

Gram

HCA:

Hierarchical cluster analysis

IC50:

50% Inhibitory concentration

LC-MS:

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

LC-NMR:

Liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance

MAPs:

Medicinal and aromatic plants

µg:

Microgram

µL:

Microliter

mg:

Milligram

mL:

Milliliter

mm:

Millimeter

MIC:

Minimum inhibitory concentration

PF:

Poison food

PDA:

Potato dextrose agar

PCA:

Principal component analysis

NaCl:

Sodium chloride

Na2SO4:

Sodium sulfate

References

  • Achkar JM, Fries BC (2010) Candida infections of the genitourinary tract. Clin Microbiol Rev 23(2):253–273

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Adams RP (2007) Identification of essential oil components by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Allured Publishing Corporation, Carol stream IL

    Google Scholar 

  • Agarwal I, Kharkwal HB, Mathela CS (1980) Chemical study and antimicrobial properties of essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus Linn. Bull Med Ethnobot Res 1:401–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Agarwal I, Mathela CS, Sinha S (1979) Studies on the antifungal activity of terpenoids against Aspergilli. Indian Phytopathol 32(1):104–105

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Agrios GN (2005) Plant pathology, 5th edn. Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington, MA, pp 446–450

    Google Scholar 

  • Amuzie CJ, Islam Z, Kim JK, Seo JH, Pestka JJ (2010) Kinetics of satratoxin G tissue distribution and excretion following intranasal exposure in the mouse. Toxicol Sci 116(2):433–440

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Awen BZ, Unnithan CR, Ravi S, Lakshmanan AJ (2010) GC-MS analysis, antibacterial activity and genotoxic property of Erigeron mucronatus essential oil. Nat Prod Commun 5:621–624

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bakkali F, Averbeck S, Averbeck D, Idaomar M (2008) Biological effects of essential oils-a review. Food Chem Toxicol 46:446–475

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bisht DS, Padalia RC, Singh L, Pande V, Lal P, Mathela CS (2010) Constituents and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of six Himalayan Nepeta species. J Serb Chem Soc 75(6):739–747

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bisht DS, Pal A, Chanotiya CS, Mishra D, Pandey KN (2011) Terpenoid composition and antifungal activity of three commercially important essential oils against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Nat Prod Res 25(20):1993–1998

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottini AT, Dev V, Shah GC, Mathela CS, Melkani AB, Nerlo AT, Strum NS (1992) Cyclopentanomonoterpene enol acetates from Nepeta leucophylla. Phytochemistry 35:1653–1657

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchbauer G, Jirovetz L (1994) Aromatherapy-use of fragrances and essential oils as medicaments. Flav Fragr J 9:217–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavaleiro C, Salgueiro L, Gonçalves MJ, Hrimpeng K, Pinto J, Pinto E (2015) Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Angelica major against Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species. J Nat Med 69(2):241–248

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty A, Marak RSK, Sing S, Gupta SO, Hurst SF, Padhye AA (2006) Brain abscess due to Aspergillus nidulans. J Med Mycol 16:100–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang HT, Cheng YH, Wu CL, Chang ST, Chang TT, Su YC (2008) Antifungal activity of essential oil and its constituents from Calocedrus macrolepis var. formosana Florin leaf against plant pathogenic fungi. Bioresour Technol 99:6266–6270

    Google Scholar 

  • Chutia M, Deka BP, Pathak MG, Sarma TC, Boruah P (2009) Antifungal activity and chemical composition of citrus reticulata Blanco essential oil against phytopathogens from North East India. LWT—Food Sci Technol 42:777–780

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng W, Zheng X (2007) Essential oils to control Alternaria alternata in vitro and in vivo. Food Control 18:1126–1130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher J, Bender C, Budowle B, Cobb WT, Gold SE, Ishimaru CA et al (2006) Plant pathogen forensics: capabilities, needs, and recommendations. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 70:450–471

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Grover RK, Moore JD (1962) Toxicometric studies of fungicides against brown rot organisms Sclerotinia fructicola and S. laxa. Phytopathology 52:876–880

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV (2004) Antifungal effects of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and its components on Candida albicans, Candida glabrate and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Antimicrob Chemother 12:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoet S, Stevigny C, Herent MF, Quetin-Leclercq J (2006) Antitrypanosomal compounds from leaf essential oil of Strychnosspinosa. Planta Med 72:480–482

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ipek E, Zeytinoglu H, Okay S, Tuylu BA, Kurkcuoglu M, Baser KH (2005) Genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of Origanum oil and carvacrol evaluated by Ames salmonella microsomal test. Food Chem 93:551–556

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jamalian A, Shams-Ghahfarokhi M, Jaimand K, Pashootan N, Amani A, Razzaghi-Abyaneh M (2012) Chemical composition and antifungal activity of Matricaria recutita flower essential oil against medically important dermatophytes and soil-borne pathogens. J Med Mycol 22(4):308–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshi SC, Padalia RC, Bisht DS, Mathela CS (2009) Terpenoid diversity in the leaf essential oils of Himalayan Lauraceae species. Chem Biodivers 9(6):1364–1373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knobloch K, Pauli A, Iberl B (1989) Antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils components. J Essent Oil Res 1:119–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar V, Mathela CS, Tewari G, Singh D, Tewari AK, Bisht KS (2014a) Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oils from three Himalayan Erigeron species. LWT- Food Sci Technol 56(2):278–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar V, Mathela CS, Tewari G, Singh D (2014b) Antifungal activity of Nepeta elliptica Royle ex Benth. oil and its major constituent (7R)-trans, trans-nepetalactone: a comparative study. Ind Crop Prod 55:70–74

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar V, Mathela CS, Tewari AK, Bisht KS (2014c) In vitro inhibition activity of essential oils from some Lamiaceae species against phytopathogenic fungi. Pestic Biochem Physiol 114:67–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee TG (2003) Health symptoms caused by molds in a courthouse. Arch Environ Health 58(7):442–446

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leelasuphakul W, Hemmanee P, Chuenchitt S (2008) Growth inhibitory properties of Bacillus subtilis strains and their metabolites against the green mold pathogen (Penicillium digitatum Sacc.) of citrus fruit. Postharvest Biol Tec 48:113–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linda SMO, Li Yaolan, Sheung-Lau K, Hua W, Elaine YLW, Vincent ECO (2006) Antimicrobial activities of cinnamon oil and cinnamaldehyde from the Chinese medicinal herb Cinnamomum cassia Blume. Am J Chin Med 34(3):511–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu M, Han Z, Xu Y, Yao L (2013) Effects of essential oils from Chinese indigenous aromatic plants on mycelial growth and morphogenesis of three phytopathogens. Flav Fragr J 28:84–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mathela CS (1981) In vitro antifungal examination of some terpenoids. Proc Natl Acad Sci India 51:513–516

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mathela CS, Joshi N (2008) Antimicrobial activity of Nepeta isolates. Nat Prod Commun 3(6):945–950

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathela CS, Sinha GK (1978) Antibacterial and antifungal study of some indiginous essential oils. J Res Indian Med Yoga Homoeo 13(3):122–124)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitscher LA, Leu RP, Bathala MS, Wu WN, Beal JL, White R (1972) Antimicrobial agents from higher plants, introduction, rationale and methodology. Lloydia 35:157–166

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Montesinos E (2003) Development, registration and commercialization of microbial pesticides for plant protection. Int Microbiol 6:245–252

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Policegoudra RS, Goswami S, Aradhya SM, Chatterjee S, Datta S, Sivaswamy R et al (2012) Bioactive constituents of Homalomena aromatica essential oil and its antifungal activity against dermatophytes and yeasts. J Med Mycol 22(1):83–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saxena J, Mathela CS (1996) Antifungal activity of new compounds from Nepeta leucophylla and Nepeta clarkei. Appl Environ Microbiol 62(2):702–704

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Steinkellner S, Roswitha MR, Vierheilig H (2008) Germination of Fusarium oxysporum in root exudates from tomato plants challenged with different Fusarium oxysporum strains. Eur J Plant Pathol 122:395–401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strachey R (1974) Catalogue of the plants of Kumaon and of the adjacent portions of Garhwal and Tibet. Periodical Experts, New Delhi, pp 142

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood folk JA (2005) Allergy and dermatophytes. Clin Microbiol Rev 18(1):30–43

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Department of Chemistry, Kumaun University, Nainital, for providing laboratory facilities, Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Dehradun, for plant identification and Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, for their valuable help in carrying out some experiments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Kumaun University, Nainital, 263 002, Uttarakhand, India

    Chandra Shekhar Mathela & Vinod Kumar

Authors
  1. Chandra Shekhar Mathela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vinod Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chandra Shekhar Mathela .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences, University of Bordeaux, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    Jean-Michel Mérillon

  2. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Research in Agro-food and Biotechnology Charles Viollette, University of Lille, Lille, France

    Céline Riviere

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Mathela, C.S., Kumar, V. (2018). Antifungal Activities of Essential Oils from Himalayan Plants. In: Mérillon, JM., Riviere, C. (eds) Natural Antimicrobial Agents. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, vol 19. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67045-4_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation