In-vitro Antifungal Activity of Eco-friendly Essential Oils against Pathogenic Seed Borne Fungi

ESSENTIAL oils (EOs) as volatile products of plant secondary metabolism, possess XI/significant antimicrobial activity, and have wide applications in the food industry and medicinal field. The purpose of this study focused on evaluating the antifungal properties of two commercial EOs, Chamomile (Chamomilla recusita L.) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). EOs were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry' (GC-MS). The most common compound identified in chamomile essential oil was alpha-bisabolol oxide A (49.09%) as a dominant compound, followed by En-yn-dicycloether (8.12%). The major compound of ginger essential oil was identified as isopulegol acetate (53.92%). The antimycotic potentiality of essential oils was detected in vitro by using agar disc diffusion method, microdilution assay for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) against three pathogenic fungal strains, Penicillium chrvsogenum, Aspeigillus niger and Aspergillus fluvus. The pathogenic strains were isolated from a stored seed-borne pathogen such as bean, popcorn, and rice. The results indicated that chamomile EO was the most effective extract and showed a potent antifungal activity against all the selected fungi when compared to ginger EO with maximum inhibition zone (5.15 +/- 0.07cm) against Penicillium chtrogemm. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of the chamomile EO on the test fungi were in the range of 1.25-2.5 mu g/ml and 2.5-5.0 mu g/ml, respectively. Chamomile ED extract would be a suitable candidate for further research to validate its role in pharmaceutical applications and agricultural purposes for safe and eco-friendly seed-treatments.