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Chemical Composition and Antifungal Properties of Essential Oil of <i>Origanum vulgare</i> Linnaeus (Lamiaceae) against <i>Sporothrix schenckii</i> and <i>Sporothrix brasiliensis</i>


CSF Couto
NRB Raposo
S Rozental
LP Borba-Santos
LML Bezerra
PA de Almeida
MAF Brandão

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the essential oil of Origanum vulgare Linnaeus (Lamiaceae) on the growth of Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis.

Methods: The chemical composition of the essential oil was investigated by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined by broth micro-dilution method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also performed to reveal morphological alterations in Sporothrix spp. cells.

Results: The major components of the essential oil were γ-terpinene (30.5%), carvacrol (15.7 %) and 4-terpineol (13.0 %). γ-Terpinene showed potential antifungal activity with MIC ranging from 62.5 to 500.0 μg mL-1 for S. schenckii, and 125.0 to 250.0 μg mL-1 for S. brasiliensis. SEM micrographs revealed morphological alterations in hyphae and reduction of the adhered conidia numbers.

Conclusion: Origanum vulgare Linnaeus essential oil possesses potential antifungal activity, and can, therefore, can be developed as an alternative agent for the treatment of sporotrichosis.

Keywords: Antifungal Activity, Essential Oil, Gas Chromatography, Origanum vulgare, Sporotrichosis


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eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996