ABSTRACT
Plant-derived essential oils (EOs) are used in medicines, disinfectants, and aromatherapy products. Information on the antifungal activity of EO of Alpinia zerumbet var. exelsa (known as Daito-gettou) found in Kitadaito Island, Okinawa, is limited. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of EOs obtained via steam distillation of leaves of Daito-gettou, which is a hybrid of A. zerumbet and A. uraiensis. Daito-gettou EO showed antifungal activity (minimum inhibitory concentration = 0.4%) against Aspergillus brasiliensis NBRC 9455, which was comparable to that of A. zerumbet found in the Okinawa main island. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed that the main components of Daito-gettou EOs are γ-terpinene, terpinen-4-ol, 1,8-cineole, 3-carene, and p-cymene. Terpinen-4-ol content (MIC = 0.075%) was 17.24%, suggesting that the antifungal activity of Daito-gettou EO was mainly attributable to this component. Daito-gettou EO and terpinen-4-ol inhibited mycelial growth. Moreover, calorimetric observations of fungal growth in the presence of Daito-gettou EO showed a characteristic pattern with no change in the initial growth rate and only a delay in growth. As this pattern is similar to that of amphotericin B, it implies that the action mode of Daito-gettou EO and terpinen-4-ol may be fungicidal. Further studies on the molecular mechanisms of action are needed for validation.
ABSTRACT
A bis-quaternary ammonium compound (bis-QAC), N,N'-hexamethylenebis(4-carbamoyl-1decylpyridinium bromide) (D-38), exhibited a wide antifungal spectrum and a strong activity against sixteen strains of fungi including nine strains isolated from various kinds of food. The antifungal activity was higher than that of N-dodecylpyridinium Iodide, a typical mono-QAC, and that of the commonly used fungicide, 2-(4-thiazolyl) benzimidazole. The activity of D-38, however, was comparatively low when it was measured by the agar dilution method. It is considered that the hydrophobic D-38 molecules, having two long alkyl chains, interacted with the agar medium, and therefore showed lower activity results. On the other hand, the activity of D-38 against Aspergillus niger IFO 6342 was not significantly influenced by temperature, pH and the initial spore concentration. These results indicate that bis-QACs can exhibit a high antifungal activity whether or not the environmental conditions change.
